NAVI MUMBAI: An illegal kutcha road and a house has been constructed inside the mangroves belt in Kamothe. The road constructed using debris has stopped sea water from entering into the mangroves, while the illegally constructed house is used for parties, locals residents have alleged.
Mangroves cell officials have inspected the area located, a stone’s throw away from the Sion Panvel highway on Thursday and again on Friday.
“The kutcha bundh area now has a kutcha road. This has stopped the entry of sea water into the mangrove filled green area, which in turn leads to death of mangroves. This is a stepwise approach to start reclamation of the mangroves land in connivance with builders,” alleged Sanket Mhatre, a local resident.
“The illegal house has been constructed by destroying mangroves. Initially, on the pretext of fishing the house was constructed. Public representatives have colluded with locals to carry out the illegal construction. Being an isolated area, parties are held in the house. Vehicles, mostly cars, move in the area,” claimed a Kamothe resident Sandip Bhosale.
“The forest officers have been asked to check,” said Sudhir Manjare, Range Forest Officer--Mangrove cell, Navi Mumbai. “The kutcha road and the house have been inspected for two days. The construction of the road is to be ascertained. There are water pipelines erected by NMMC and Cidco. An effluent discharge pipeline is laid by MIDC. Whether the road has been made by these agencies or others is yet to be verified. The house owner has shown us a property tax receipt for 2019-20, but he was asked to produce all documents. Cidco owns the land,” said Bapu Gadade, forester, mangroves cell - Navi Mumbai.
Cidco is yet to act on such illegal activities.
