MUMBAI: A special cell set up last year to protect and expand the mangrove cover across Maharashtra is floundering due to lack of manpower. The cell, whose sanctioned strength of 37 is also considered inadequate, currently has only 15 members.
The cell's jurisdiction extends not just to Mumbai but the entire Maharashtra coastline covering Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts and four districts in and around Mumbai. It now has just 15 people, headed by the chief conservator of forests and comprising one assistant conservator of forests, four range forest officers, besides a few forest guards and boatmen.
"Our cell is in charge of mangroves in six districts, for which even a strength of 37 people is insufficient. It's just grossly inadequate. We are hence more concerned about expanding mangrove cover and supporting research activities. The cell will act as a fulcrum for all mangrove conservation activities in the state. We will have to pool in a lot of resources, including NGOs, local communities. We aim to restore mangroves which are in a degraded state, besides maintaining coastal bio-diversity. The regular forest department is in a better position to protect mangroves," said N Vasudevan, chief conservator of forests, who currently heads the mangrove cell.
The mangrove cell was to double the state's 186 sq km (18,600 hectares) of mangrove cover in a decade, by nurturing mudflats among other things.
"The cell will play the role of a catalyst and refer all complaints regarding the destruction of mangroves to the appropriate authorities. Violations on private land will be referred to the revenue department," said Vasudevan. Investigations into any violations, if related to notified forest land, will be conducted by the forest department, said Vasudevan.
The Bombay high court, in a 2005 order, directed the state government to conduct satellite mapping to identify mangrove land and designate them as protected forests. The government then initiated several measures to protect the green belt. The mangrove revival plan was an offshoot of this order.
Acting on the court order, more than 5,800 hectares of mangroves were declared 'protected forests' in Mumbai. Last year, the state passed a legislation empowering authorities to file criminal cases against persons who destroy mangroves. Destruction of mangroves can invite penalties as well as imprisonment. Penalties for violations committed on government land (notified as 'protected forests') and private land (notified as 'forest') will come under the Forest Conservation Act. Since the CRZ notification also brings several mangroves under the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ-I), it will also attract provisions of the Environment Protection Act. While the prescribed penalty under the Forest Conservation Act is 15 days' imprisonment, that under the Environment Conservation Act can go up to five years' imprisonment if the mangrove land is within CRZ-I. The government also set up the mangrove cell a few months back, but it is right now hit by an acute staff crunch.
Mangroves are a natural breeding ground for several species and act as natural lungs and kidneys of the ecosystem. Their importance has been especially highlighted in buffering natural hazards such as cyclones.
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