<p>Order of the National Green Tribunal (Western Zone Bench, Pune) in the matter of Snehal Donde Vs State of Maharashtra & Others dated 12/11/2024.</p> <p><a href="http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/Waldhuni-river-concretization-NGT-order-Nov12-2024.pdf"
Dumper trucks with BMC logo on them bound for the Mulund dumping ground dumped solid waste in the mangroves itself Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's dumpers carrying solid waste from Mumbai are allegedly dumping it in the mangrove forests at Kolshet in Thane. The dumpers, according to Shiv Sena corporator Pandurang Patil, bearing BMC labels dump solid waste into the mangrove cover at the edge of Thane creek. Patil discovered this when he was passing through the area on Wednesday on some official work. Patil sent a letter of complaint to civic commissioner Nandkumar Jantre demanding that the BMC dumpers bringing in solid waste into the city from Ghodbunder Road en route to Mulund dumping ground near Anand Nagar check naka be kept under a watch. Those dumpers that are found disposing off their waste on the mangrove cover on the way, according to the letter, should be impounded and fined for the act. Venkatesh Bhat, the Deputy Municipal Commissioner (DMC) TMC Headquarters informed that it was the primary duty of the district collectorate to check the slaughter of mangroves. He added that civic commissioner Nandkumar Jantre held meetings with the collector and officials of the Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB) few days back and highlighted the problem. Bhat assured that the civic officials would keep an eye on such dumpers and fine those who are found illegally dumping solid waste into the area. He also informed that several civic dumpers were confiscated in Thane in the past and the TMC would not hesitate to seize BMC dumpers carrying out the illegal act of dumping garbage into the wetlands in future. The TMC, however, came under pressure from the standing committee as well. Rajan Kine, chairman of the civic Standing Committe has taken a serious note of the incident and directed the corporation to ban the passage of BMC dumpers from the city of Thane altogether earlier, these dumpers refused to pay entry taxes for using the TMC roads.
Following the initiative by two banks to increase forest cover in Titwala, two companies have now offered to contribute in a similar manner in Kausa near Mumbra and in Kalwa. Mahindra Life Space Developer Limited of the Mahindra Group and Sandoz Pvt Lt have approached the Forest department in Thane requesting it to lease out a 250-hectare plot in Kausa and a 5-hectare plot in Kalwa respectively in order to turn the patches green. Forest land can be leased out for a period of time for such purposes. According to a Forest official, the two banks have leased out 25 acres each on the banks of Kalu River in Titwala and work is in progress. Deputy Conservator of Forest (Thane) Bhaskarao Walimbe said that the proposal is pending with the Forest department and the agreement should be signed between the two parties in a couple of months' time so that the work can start in the monsoon. However, the task for the companies on both the plots will be daunting because of rocky terrain and encroachment. "In case of Kausa, the plot which is to be handed over to Mahindra Life Space Developer Limited, was an encroached plot,' said Walimbe. The Forest department with help from the police and TMC officials had cleared off the encroachment a few days ago
WATER shortage is becoming more and more acute in Thane and Ghodbunder road area. They are going without water supply for the last three days and this has resulted in public protests against the TMC. The TMC has, however, put the blame on the state irrigation department and sought a high-level discussion to end the crises. The problem of water scarcity has engulfed Vartak Nagar, Bhim Nagar, Lokmanya Nagar, Indira Nagar, Ram Nagar and Manpada, as well as other high-rise areas on Ghodbunder Road since the last two weeks. These areas have been going without proper water supply for more than three days a week since the past two weeks. These areas require 34 Million Litres per Day (MLD) of water but the situation has resulted in the water supply going down by more than 10-12 MLD everyday. Residents of several areas do not even get drinking water due to the recent situation. The anger of the residents is growing day by day.
