100 mangroves cut at Sai Dham Nagar, Charkop

Just received call from Francis Xavier about 100 mangroves being cut at Sai Dham Nagar opposite Charkop Bus Depot. GE images below should make the matter clear. The Charkop Bus Depot is clearly seen and the mangroves being cut are behind the slums.

(Right click and open pics in new tab)

Charkop, Mumbai North

I spoke to the R North Assistant Municipal Commissioner Mr. Bagalkar, who expressed his desire to cooperate but requested that we persuade MHADA to reveal the photo passes it has issued for the area, which will give him documentary evidence to pursue the matter. The Sr. PI there has also been pursuing the mater and the AMC is willing to share the correspondences.

Will be writing a letter to MHADA, DCP and AMC.

Photographs awaited.

Mangroves next to Chembur-Mankhurd Link Road

The pictures below show the steady loss of mangroves next to the Chembur-Mankhurd Link Road over the past few years.

For best viewing right click and open each picture in a new window.

Will the hut be working on the mangrove behind? How soon before the tree is gone?

MMRDA destroying mangroves

It is most saddening and ironical to see the MMRDA itself destroying mangroves in Bandra Kurla Complex.  This has to be stopped immediately. See the images below. Right click and open in new tab. Images taken on 4th Feb 09.

Vakola Nala coming from Santacruz, joins Mithi on the other side

The mangroves on the left.

The contruction of the retainer wall will stop the water flow from Vakola Nala to the mangroves on the left, ultimately destroying them.

A letter has been sent to

1) The Metropolitan Commissioner

2) Chief Justice, Mumbai High Court

3) Secretary Environment

Read a copy of the letter here Letter to MMRDA. Here mmrda-16feb09-vakola-nala1

An acknowledgment of all the authorities -acknowledgment-of-vakola-nala-letter1

Do join the protest on

Wednesday, 25th Feb, 5 pm

On the Bridge between MMRDA office and ICICI Bank

CIDCO-BEAG Agreement

Below is the PDF of the agrreement between CIDCO and BEAG. Please comment.

cidco-beag-agreement

Mumbra-Diva Mangroves

The Diva Mumbra mangroves need help now.

Low cost housing and commercial units are coming up at a fast pace

Close up of the area. On mangroves and next to mangroves

The big picture. The big circled area was destroyed between 2000-02

Walk in Mangroves

Wetlands Day March a grand success!!

To celebrate World Wetlands Day which is celebrated on February 2nd the residents of Juhu Versova Link Road along with the Save Andheri Versova Environment (SAVE) Forum and the Mangrove Society of India (Mumbai Chapter) organized a march through the neighbourhood.

The purpose of the march was to highlight the importance of the mangroves to the people in the neighbourhood and to send a message that the destruction of mangroves will not be tolerated.

The core group which met on January 17th had estimated that atleast 50 people will definitely come for the march. To everybody’s surprise more than 250 people turned up for the march!! The response has completely energised everybody in the neighborhood to work for the protection of the mangroves in the neighbourhood.

Below are the pictures from the march.

Large number of children participated

The march passed through the main roads of the area

An areal view of some of the mangrvoes in the area

Letter on Charkop mangroves

A letter to the various authorities as listed in the letter has been sent. The letter is copied below and has been hand delivered and sent by registered post to Delhi.

Charkop Jan08 letter

MOEF considers mangroves important!

Friends check the Ministry of Environment and Forests Annual Report 06-07 at the link below and see the amount of importance the Ministry lays on mangroves and coastal ecosystems. Now its up to the grassroots community to insure that they are making representations to the MOEF reminding them to demonstrate action!

http://envfor.nic.in/report/report.html

Report of 3rd June Human Chain for Environment

Human Chain for Environment on 3^rd June, 2007 was a success at Eastern Express Highway and Lokhandwal Complex, Andheri. About 60 people attended the same at Eastern Express Highway and 40 at Lokhandwal Complex, Andheri to express their solidarity with mangroves. At Lokhandwala the group braved the rains during the event.

Photo of Human Chain

Eastern Express Highway Human Chain