NCP leader booked for destruction of mangroves in Andheri

After several days of a bitter battle between residents of SVP Nagar in Andheri and NCP leader Narendra Verma, over illegal concretisation of mangroves, the Versova police registered an FIR against Verma under the Environment Protection Act-1986 on Monday.

Residents have alleged that Verma was getting paver blocks laid on a vacant plot close to the Jankidevi School, of which he is the chairman, to create a road to be used for parking and plying of schoolbuses.

"In the name of maintaining the open plot leased to him by the Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (Mhada), Verma has started laying concrete and paver blocks, that too within 50 meters of mangroves. This is illegal. We had raised the issue last Thursday as well. Initially, there was resistance from cops in filing the FIR but after a visit by the officials from the tehsildar's office and continuous pressure on authorities, the FIR was registered," said advocate Vivekanand Gupta, secretary of Mumbai BJP, who has been accompanying the residents of Shiv Kutir, just next to the school.

According to Gupta, now that the FIR has been registered, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will have to take action. "I have already spoken to the assistant municipal commissioner of K/West ward, who is waiting for the FIR copy. I have requested him to get removed all the paver blocks at the earliest. I have also written to Mhada officials to cancel the lease and ensure that the plot is restored to its original status," said Gupta.

On Monday, Talati, Shiv Kutir residents and some other locals visited the area. "I was present there during the site inspection and even Verma joined. He kept saying that he had permission to carry out the work. We want to know which authority issued him the permission and how. It is completely against the environment laws. We have no issues with any individual, but we cannot allow destruction of the environment," said Sumesh Lekhi, an environmentalist.

The FIR registered under section 15 (1) (2) of the Environment Protection Act has been filed by a staffer of the Tehsildar's office. In his statement, the official said the work being carried out by Verma was in violation of the Environment Act, as paver blocks were being laid within 50 meters of the mangroves.

Verma, however, has claimed this was an attempt by people with vested interests to malign his school. He said there was a problem of rodents in the area, and so he was getting the paver blocks laid for the benefit of students.

"No resident came down to file a police complaint when this plot was taken over by slums and illegal activities went on without a problem. They have been harassing us for doing good work since 2002. I will fight again, as I have done several times in the past," he said.

Elaborating further, Verma said, "Initially, the talati and circle officer came for inspection. They told me there was no violation. They even read their report in front of me and took my signature. Suddenly they are claiming something entirely different. I suspect foul play. This is being done with a motive to defame me."