Citizen activism: Authorities save mangroves from builder debris
	Shabana Ansari The initiative by an Andheri residents' association to pro­tect mangroves and discourage encroachment by land sharks is finally yielding results. The state environment depart­ment, the civic authorities and the police have all stepped in to stop the dumping of debris on a mangroves stretch near the Oshiwara creek. On Friday, residents and ac­tivists were pleasantly surprised to find policemen standing guard as excavators started clearing the area. "It is hearten­ing to see the authorities taking prompt corrective action. This			lice filed a first information re­port against the builders for il­legal land-filling. Advocating more vigilance by residents against land sharks, an associa­tion member Sumesh Lekhi said, "It's shocking how the builder lobby is systematically choking mangroves in their at­tempt to level the land." So far, mangroves on nearly 10,000 sqmt at the Oshiwara creek have been destroyed al­legedly by builders aiming at building a multi-storey resi­dential complex there. "They had no environmen­tal clearance and yet the BMC has accepted their building plan," alleged Pandit.		SAVETHE LAND The land falls under the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) According to the Development Control Rules, destruction of mangroves is a criminal offence Also, the Bombay high court order dated October 6,2005, prohibits any construction activity within 50 metres of the mangrove areas
		will send a message to builders that they can't get away with il­legal activities," said environ­mentalist Debi Goenka, who is supporting the cause. In a recent letter addressed to activist Ashoke Pandit, who along with the Oshiwara-Lokhandwala Citizens' Associa­tion has taken up the issue, state environment secretary Valsa Nair Singh has assured support, saying: "The authorities con-	cerned at the field level — the district collector, the represen­tative of the forest department, and the BMC officials concerned — have been directed to take ac­tion on the issue." District suburban collector Nir-mal Deshmukh, too, assured res­idents of action against builders if they fail to clear the land. Earlier, following the associ­ation's complaint at the collec­tor's office, the Oshiwara po-
						Civic workers remove debris from a mangrove stretch near the Oshiwara creek. Till date, mangroves on 10,000 sqmt have been destroyed here