Mumbai: Local authorities cordon off roads to Panvel river

A dug-up mud road that leads to Kasadi river near Panvel

Days after this newspaper exposed rampant sand mining in Kasadi river near Panvel, authorities swiftly moved to check the illegality. They have dug up trenches on roads leading to the sand mining site to stop movement of dumpers. "I personally thank the authorities concerned for taking corrective action against illegal mechanised sand dredging. The trenches on the kutcha roads to the river will surely prevent the transportation of the sand being illegally mined," said environmentalist Nandakumar Pawar.

mid-day's front-page report - Sand mafia caught plundering Panvel river in daylight - had highlighted the brazen malpractice during daytime. It had also said that Pawar had complained to the Chief Minister's Office and the Mangrove Cell of the forest department for urgent action.

Sand mining has been banned in Maharashtra since 2010.

Pawar said, "The river has great potential to be developed as a tourist attraction and it should be declared a protected zone. It can then support the livelihood of local fisherfolks and boost migratory bird population."

The environmentalist said huge quantities of sand can be excavated quickly with the machines and suction pumps. The sand mafia often takes away the top layer of the river bed which is the most fertile ground for fish and other marine life.

Pitching for strict action against the sand illegal miners other than regular monitoring, Pawar said, "Whatever machines and tools involved in these illegal activities must be seized. Only financial loss can dissuade the sand miners from stealing the sand."

Pawar and other activists are also engaged in a tough battle to check water pollution in the river. "Authorities must do something to stop release of untreated waste by companies at Taloja MIDC into Kasadi river and other water bodies in the vicinity. Strict action must be taken against these polluting units," he said.

Panvel Tehsildar Vijay Talekar was not available for comments.

2010
When sand mining was banned