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HT : Worried greens to take plea to Delhi : Nov 5,2007 GREEN WATCH - Worried greens to take plea to Delhi
Days after noticing dumping on mangroves, Lokhandwala resident will visit Environment Ministry on behalf of worried locals Kiran Wadhwa Mumbai WHILE MOST of us ignore our vanishing greenscape, a group of Andheri's Lokhandwala residents seems prepared to do everything - even go to the office of the Environment Ministry in Delhi - to make sure their mangroves re main untouched. Mangroves are a buffer between the land and the sea and protect the city from flooding by absorbing excess rainwater. A few days ago, residents noticed bulldozers destroying mangroves stretching from Lokhandwala Creek to Jogger's Park. They immediately went to the police, but received a ‘cold' response and were told that the municipal cooperation had to handle the situation, said the residents. "After several attempts, we finally got the police to listen to us. Though the activity has stopped now, we want to make sure that it stays that way," said documentary filmmaker Vaseem Delhvi, a resident of the area. He will represent the Lokhandwala residents and take the demand to Delhi. "I will be going to Delhi tomorrow and will meet someone in the Ministry of Environment to ensure that this does not happen again," Delhvi added. Delhvi is one of 77 residents who sent a petition to the police department, demanding a stop to the destruction of mangroves in the area. The residents belong to four residential build ings - Nav Karan, Springfields, Silver Springs and Samarth Krupa - in Lokhandwala Complex. "We are still worried because builders are powerful and the work might start again. These mangroves protect our homes from flooding. We will not rest until they are safe," said Sandesh Shetty, a resident of Springfield Apartments. The Bombay High Court two years ago prohibited any construction or dumping up to 50 metres around mangroves. The Lokhandwala mangroves form a significant patch of the city's mangroves. "These mangroves are spread across over 1,000 acres and are needed to prevent flooding in the area," said environmentalist Debi Goenka of Bombay Environmental Action Group. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SAVE MANGROVES
First, visit a mangrove area up close. If you want to go on an organised trip, you can check
www.mumbaimangroves.org. Mangroves and solid waste management are interrelated. So segregate garbage in your home and allow only wet waste to go into the municipal truck. Dry waste should be kept out of the landfill sites. You can also gradually try to process your wet waste at home or in your housing society. This will completely eliminate the need for waste to be transported long distances to dumping grounds - all of which are situated in Coastal Regulation Zone areas.
Do not remain silent about any act of destruction you see. Support individuals and groups active in saving mangroves by attending meetings or writing to authorities and the media. You can connect with other mangrove supporters on www.mumbaimangrovers.wordpress.com. Publication : HT; Section : Metro; Pg : 3; Date : 5/11/07 URL : http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=05_11_2007_005_006&typ=0&pub=264 |
| Also see : Environment, Environment : News Articles, Land : News Articles |
