SC orders builder in Dahisar to restore mangroves in 60 days …..Snehal Rebello
In a first, the Supreme Court, on Monday, took note of the destruction of mangroves in Dahisar by a Kandivli-based builder, Ravi Shah, and has directed him to open all blocked culverts within seven days to allow flow of seawater into the 430-acre mangrove stretch. The apex court has asked the builder to restore the green stretch adjoining the Gorai creek to its original state within 60 days.
Upholding the contempt petition filed by the Mumbais suburban collector against the builder for destroying mangroves, the SC also ordered the builder to remove excess debris dumped on the mangrove patch.
The mangroves will now be allowed to grow. There will be no commercial development on the land, said Debi Goenka of the Bombay Environment Action Group, which had filed the petition. The builder was denying that mangroves were being destroyed, he added.