To,
Chief Secretary - Environment Department, Maharashtra
For over a decade now, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has been rapidly losing its wetlands to urbanization and infrastructure development, leading to a considerable decline in bird life as well increasing instances of flooding during the monsoon. According to Wetlands International South Asia (WISA), Mumbai lost 71% of its wetlands between 1970 and 2014.[1]
MMR is home to a large number of wetlands; Raigad district alone has identified 130 wetlands. Environmentalists have, therefore, been raising grave concerns on the issue of rampant destruction of these wetlands.
The burial of wetlands such as Panje, Belpada, Bhendkhal and Sawahkhar in Uran has been impacting lives and livelihoods of the fishing community, the original habitats, losing their source of survival and the constitutional right to practice their trade.
While there is some relief from the judiciary in cases filed by environmentalists, most of the court orders are not being respected in MMR region both by government agencies and construction companies. Also small incidents of Mangroves burning, waste dumping keep occurring even on sites protected by the forest department.
CIDCO is even putting plots in Coastal Regulation Zones for auction for sale to builders. Residents of Navi Mumbai and many organizations have have opposed this move and held multiple protests on these sites.
Mumbai is already facing severe floods due to this rampant destruction of wetlands. We the citizens of Mumbai Metropolitan Region want our government to take care of these wetlands.
Our demands
1. Stop all the construction in all Coastal Regulation Zones of Navi Mumbai
2. Immediately stop the illegal dumping of waste on the dying wetlands of Panje, Belpada, Bhendkhal and Sawahkhar in Uran - Navi Mumbai
3. Stop the dumping of debris on wetlands and mangroves of MMR region.
4. Handover of all mangrove forests in Maharashtra to Mangrove Cell of Maharashtra.
5. Increased surveillance at all wetlands sites in MMR
Sources :
1. https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-lost-71-of-its-wetlands-in-44-yrs/story-FeJ9uNuD3nzQvQ2NFysRiP.html
2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/navi-mumbai-bhendkhal-wetland-further-destroyed-in-uran-despite-hc-panel-orders/articleshow/90626110.cms
To,
Chief Secretary - Environment Department, Maharashtra
For over a decade now, Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) has been rapidly losing its wetlands to urbanization and infrastructure development, leading to a considerable decline in bird life as well increasing instances of flooding during the monsoon. According to Wetlands International South Asia (WISA), Mumbai lost 71% of its wetlands between 1970 and 2014.[1]
MMR is home to a large number of wetlands; Raigad district alone has identified 130 wetlands. Environmentalists have, therefore, been raising grave concerns on the issue of rampant destruction of these wetlands.
The burial of wetlands such as Panje, Belpada, Bhendkhal and Sawahkhar in Uran has been impacting lives and livelihoods of the fishing community, the original habitats, losing their source of survival and the constitutional right to practice their trade.
While there is some relief from the judiciary in cases filed by environmentalists, most of the court orders are not being respected in MMR region both by government agencies and construction companies. Also small incidents of Mangroves burning, waste dumping keep occurring even on sites protected by the forest department.
CIDCO is even putting plots in Coastal Regulation Zones for auction for sale to builders. Residents of Navi Mumbai and many organizations have have opposed this move and held multiple protests on these sites.
Mumbai is already facing severe floods due to this rampant destruction of wetlands. We the citizens of Mumbai Metropolitan Region want our government to take care of these wetlands.
Our demands
1. Stop all the construction in all Coastal Regulation Zones of Navi Mumbai
2. Immediately stop the illegal dumping of waste on the dying wetlands of Panje, Belpada, Bhendkhal and Sawahkhar in Uran - Navi Mumbai
3. Stop the dumping of debris on wetlands and mangroves of MMR region.
4. Handover of all mangrove forests in Maharashtra to Mangrove Cell of Maharashtra.
5. Increased surveillance at all wetlands sites in MMR
Sources :
1. https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-lost-71-of-its-wetlands-in-44-yrs/story-FeJ9uNuD3nzQvQ2NFysRiP.html
2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/navi-mumbai/navi-mumbai-bhendkhal-wetland-further-destroyed-in-uran-despite-hc-panel-orders/articleshow/90626110.cms
Next step - spread the word
Save wetlands of Mumbai Metropolitan Region(MMR)