Mumbai: Mangroves closed off, Andheri road becomes dumping ground

Piles of garbage seen right next to the fence protecting the mangroves

With access to the mangroves adjacent to the road going from Lokhandwala Back Road to SVP Nagar, Mhada gone, residents staying in the vicinity are having to contend with a garbage-lined road as it has been turned into a dumping ground. Before the chain-link fence was erected, all the garbage from the locality used to end up in the mangroves.

Along with garbage, debris from various construction projects taking place on the 200-m stretch of road from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Nagar to Lokhandwala Back Road, also used to end up in the mangroves.

Illegal dumping in the mangroves and the Lokhandwala lake has been a major problem threatening the city's fast-depleting green cover. mid-day has consistently highlighted the issue.

Earlier, trucks would dump debris near the lake and in the mangroves. After residents and environmentalists raised the issue, local MLA Bharti Lavekar took serious note and arranged for beautification work surrounding the lake and the installation of chain-link fencing along the stretch of mangroves, which began in September.

Mukesh W, a resident, said, "It is a good thing that our MLA is taking steps to protect the mangroves as they need to be protected from illegal dumping. However, what is happening right now is that the garbage is left on a stretch of road going from SVP Nagar towards Lokhandwala Back Road. The garbage is naturally causing us a lot of inconvenience. We would appreciate it if the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and other concerned officials cleared the garbage at the earliest. Otherwise, it will just turn into a new dumping ground."

A visit by this reporter revealed piles of garbage lying on the road. In addition, it also appears that some locals seem to have mistaken it for a garbage collection point.

A local Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office-bearer, who did not wish to be named, said that the garbage on the road is the one that was removed from inside the mangroves and that it will be collected and transported to the dumping site soon.

MLA speaks

Talking to mid-day, MLA Bharti Lavekar said, "I will be instructing the concerned officials to immediately look into this matter. The garbage and other material from the road will be cleared at the earliest."

200m
Length of the road which has mangroves next to it

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