Where there is a will, there is a golden beach, or so the residents of Carter Road in Bandra would like to believe as sand has started reappearing along its seafront after 25 years.
The beach, until now strewn with rubble, tar and stones, is limping back to its old glory thanks to the residents’ persistent efforts to prevent further abuse by scooping out truckloads of rubble and chunks of tar dumped there by the civic body.
“Last month, we removed 40 truckloads of rubble and tar from the waterfront, and now we can see sand. There’s still a long way to go before we get our sandy beach back in entirety,” said Renuka Tahiliani, a resident of Amrit building on Carter Road.
Architect PK Das, chairperson, Mumbai Waterfronts Centre, which spearheaded the project, says the day isn’t far when Carter Road residents will be able to walk along a long stretch of sandy beach. “It’s the consistent dumping and land-filling that destroys the coastline. Tidal waves bring in and take away sand. When rubble and debris is dumped on the beach, it affects the natural ecological process, whereby erosion takes place and even sandy beaches disappear, like in Dadar, Shivaji Park and Prabhadevi,” said Das.
Das said two phenomenal changes were found after the promenade was constructed. “Mangroves have flourished into a forest on Carter Road. Similarly, sand has started reappearing. This is because we have allowed the natural process to revive. It’s delightful to see magic in such a short time,” said Das.
But Bandra resident and environmentalist Darryl D’Monte is sceptical of the beach being restored completely. “It’s a losing battle. We can get it back only if we start cleaning it consistently,” he said. D’Monte also said that due to the high tides this year, tides all over the coast are carrying in more sand.
When Santosh Sawant, executive engineer, PWD, coastal department, was queried about the phenomenon, he said, “I can comment only after I visit the site.”
