Mumbai: Dahisar mangrove park gets leg up

Mumbai's first mangrove park has received a major shot in the arm, with Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar sanctioning Rs 1 crore for its Phase I, and local MLA Manisha Chaudhary giving a detailed presentation to the suburban collector regarding the proposed park.

The park has been planned in an 80-hectare area along the Dahisar link road. The entire park will be set up in a reserved area controlled by the forest department.

Chaudhary, who has consistently been following up the project with different departments, including the Chief Minister's Office, said work will begin soon. "A presentation on the proposed park was shown to officials from the mangrove cell and to collector Sachin Kurve, who has assured of full support and funds. We are planning to have a bhoomi poojan soon, and are trying to fix a date with the forest minister," said Chaudhary, adding that the mangrove park will put Dahisar on the tourist map, and will be an important step towards mangrove and wetland conservation.

Chaudhary had recently put in a request for a land survey of Ganpat Patil Nagar, a slum pocket located close to the proposed park, and asked the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) to provide a detailed buffer zone demarcation from the mangroves, which will give a clear picture of the area that has been encroached upon. "The park will ensure protection of the mangrove land on one side, while all eligible residents of Ganpat Patil Nagar can be shifted to an SRA project. The mangrove area can also be protected through fencing and setting up of CCTV cameras," she added.

Meanwhile, N Vasudevan, additional principal chief conservator of forest (APCCF), Mangrove Cell, said the park would bring people closer to mangroves. "Visitors will get an opportunity to walk along the mangroves on boardwalks, understand biodiversity present here and the role it plays in our coastal forest land. The park would also play an important role in research and conservation," he said.

SECURITY CONCERNS

To ensure security at the mangrove park, there will be fencing that is carried out, while CCTV cameras will also be installed at regular intervals.