Mumbai: Wall threatening turtle nesting site on Versova beach, says activist

Locals said the work is going on at a brisk pace for the past two weeks

The resumption of construction of a retaining wall along the Versova beach has upset activists who allege that the seafront is a turtle nesting site and the structure poses a huge threat to the marine ecosystem there. They have demanded that the work be stopped at once.

Green activist Zoru Bhathena said the Public Welfare Department had been given the nod to repair the existing compound walls along the beach. Instead, he alleged, PWD officials have taken it upon themselves to construct a new wall, splitting the beach in the middle, and to fill up the remainder of the beach with rocks and tetrapods.

"It is shameful to see how a public authority has blatantly destroyed an entire beach in the garb of strengthening an existing wall. It is high time our authorities corrected this wrong and restored the Versova beach to its natural sandy status," said Bhathena.

The work on the 1.2-km wall first started last year and was halted after activists wrote to the state environment department raising concerns. mid-day had reported the development. Locals said it resumed two weeks ago and has been going on at a brisk pace between 8 am and 8 pm. A few locals and environmentally conscious citizens have formed a WhatsApp group to garner support to oppose the construction.

In March 2018, Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings were spotted on Versova beach and it was said that it was the first sighting after 15-20 years. Since then residents of the area and wildlife lovers have demanded that the beach be protected.

Bhathena said the beach is protected under (Coastal Regulatory Zone) CRZ-IA and CRZ-IB where no development activity is permitted. He said the wall will alter the sand dunes. "No civil/construction work can be carried out on protected Versova beach without prior approval of the Forest (Wildlife) authorities, and without taking adequate care that the turtle breeding areas are not destroyed. Building an RCC wall and dumping tetrapods on their nesting grounds is simply not permitted," he added.

A PWD official from the site who did not wish to be named said, "We have necessary permissions to carry out the work." Asked specifically if they had got the green signal from the forest department, the official refused to share more details.