Landfilling, removal of water hyacinth at Powai lake destroying marsh crocodile's habitat: Green activist

The environmentalist has stated in the email that a couple of days back the landfilling was going on in the night too

The controversy surrounding Powai lake does not seem to end. A city-based green activist has now alleged that the landfilling and removal of water hyacinth from Powai lake is destroying the habitat of Indian marsh crocodiles. He also alleged that the activity is in contravention of court orders.

Stalin D, an environmentalist and director of NGO Vanashakti has written a letter titled ‘Stop landfilling and destruction of crocodile habitat in Powai lake in contravention of court orders' to the collector of Mumbai suburban, municipal commissioner, Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB), Maharashtra Pollution Control Bureau (MPCB), PCCF, Wetlands Redressal Committee, secretary of the environment department of the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change. Stalin had also posted a photograph of the work being carried out at night on Twitter and had attached the same with the email that was sent.

"This is to highlight landfilling and reclamation of wetlands. There is ongoing non-stop landfilling and movement of dumpers inside the lake boundaries. The action of removing water hyacinth is not something to be done haphazardly. It is always done using barge-mounted machinery. There is no need to make roads using mud and debris in the wetland. Removal of water hyacinth without tackling ingress of sewage is counterproductive."

Stalin D has also claimed that the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has passed a judgement on how the restoration of the lake and protection of the crocodile habitat should be done in the lake. "Please note that all acts being done presently are contrary to the directions given by Hon'ble NGT and also the orders of the Hon'ble Bombay High Court in PIL (public interest litigation) 87 of 2013. Please intervene and stop the landfilling work and other activities going on inside Powai lake," Stalin said in the letter.

It has also been stated in the email that a couple of days back the work was going on in the night too. "The committee set up by Hon'ble NGT has to approve activities proposed to be undertaken and also the court orders have to be complied with. Please see the photographs attached. Urging immediate action from your end to protect the wetlands and also the crocodile habitat," the letter concludes.

Central pollution board says

Replying to the tweet by Stalin D, CPCB in its tweet said, "Dear Sir, Your complaint has been forwarded to the concerned agency for action through ms@mpcb.gov.in and the Complaint ID is: TW 21-3146."