In what could end up being one of the biggest demolition drives undertaken in South Mumbai against encroachments on mangrove land, the Mangrove Cell on Wednesday razed over 150 hutments at Ganesh Murty Nagar, Cuffe Parade.
Officials involved in the operation claimed that Wednesday was just the beginning. "We have identified around 700 hutments and this demolition might go on for the next two days.
There are many violations here, and on Wendesday we have not only carried out demolitions but also created way for machinery to enter so the structures built near the creek too can be razed," said Makarand Ghodke, Assistant Conservator of Forest (ACF) Mangrove Cell.
He added that on Wednesday 25 staff from the Mangrove Cell, 50 from Mumbai police and 30 labourers along with BMC officials were present for the demolition. "One of the JCBs got stuck, and now we plan to get the Poclain machines to help clear the remaining hutments on Thursday itself," said Ghodke.
Infact, officials from Mangrove Cell also said that people have not only encroached on the mangrove land by dumping debris and then building huts but also constructing stilt-like structures over the land from where tidal waters enter.
Mangrove Cell officials also said that this was one of their biggest drives in recent times, and there were lot of complaints filed by environmentalists pertaining to the widespread land filling and encroachment being carried out.
