Conduct satellite mapping of mangroves: Bombay HC

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed the state to conduct fresh satellite imaging of wetlands and submit the progress report of the committees formed to address grievances and complaints of wetlands being encroached upon. After the state said that an authority to implement the 2017 rules of mangroves and wetlands would be constituted through a government resolution within two weeks, the court warned of initiating contempt proceedings against the secretary of environment for delaying implementation of a court order for which deadline ended on December 26, 2017. 

The division bench of justices Naresh Patil and Nitin Sambre were informed by the petitioner saying that though the public interest litigation was filed in 2013 and the state had submitted affidavits, none of the undertakings had been complied with which indicated that the sate was not interested in restraining illegal encroachments on wetlands and destruction of mangroves. “The state had been asked to furnish a list of wetland areas in the state in 2013 but till date it has not done so,” said advocate appearing for Vanashakti Public Trust. The matter has been posted after two weeks for compliance.

The advocate further complained that the committee that was set up at the instance of the court had not been able to do anything substantial with regards to destruction of wetlands as the state was not willing to do anything. 

However, additional government pleader refuted the allegations and said that the government would be issuing a resolution to set up an authority to oversee the wetlands and the same would be done within two weeks. He also said that the authority would be addressing grievances and complaints too. 

After hearing both sides the court chided the state for its callous attitude towards saving the environment and sought the progress reports of the committee that had been set up to look into the issue of destruction of wetlands and mangroves. It also asked the state to ensure that the authority as stated by them was formed before the next hearing. The bench also directed the state   to undertake satellite mapping of mangroves and wetlands in the state and submit the same in the next hearing too.

Owners seek free lands 

A group of advocates representing land owners from different parts of the state sought directions to the state to free their lands that had been marked as wetlands. 
“The images were taken during the monsoon when our fields that were submerged under water were also assumed to be wetlands.

We request the court to direct the state to unmark our lands from the same,” said an advocate. The court however, directed the petitioners to approach the authority that the government said would be set up within two weeks and get their complaints resolved.