Activists fighting to save the pristine stretches of mangroves across Mumbai from land sharks are urging citizens to not only lodge complaints on the dedicated website in case they spot destruction of mangroves but also track their complaints to check the action taken.
As per officials of Maharashtra State Mangrove Cell, citizens can now directly lodge complaints along with photographs of the destruction of mangroves. "Either one can call on toll-free number 1926 or use the website www.konkanmangroves.com or send an email on konkanmangroves@gmail.com. There are provisions to attach photographs on the website as well as there is a format for filling in details," said a senior official.
This is in line with the directions of the order of High Court in PIL 87/2006 under which the Maharashtra state government had constituted a high-level committee under the joint chairmanship of Konkan Divisional Commissioner and Additional Principal Chief Conservator (APCCF) of forests, mangrove cell for protection, conservation and restoration of mangroves.
The Divisional Commissioner has also set up district and taluka level sub-committees at all coastal districts of Maharashtra and these committees will address complaints of mangrove destruction at the regional level.
"Any citizen can now, without any worry of having to run from pillar to post, file complaint of mangrove destruction and their identity too will be kept confidential and apart from that the action taken by authorities too will be available online," said activist Harish Pandey, President of New Link Road Residents Forum (NLRRF) who has been playing a key role in saving hundreds of acres of mangroves along the Dahisar link road adding that it was time for citizens to play their part in conservation and protection of mangroves for a healthy Mumbai.
