TMC told to stop dumping debris, creek reclamation

Mumbai: Amid the ongoing reclamation of Thane wetlands for the waterfront development project, the Bombay high court has directed the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) against dumping debris on the wetlands in the project sites.

The Asian Age had reported that the waterfront project entails filling up of major wetlands in Gaimukh, Mumbra and Saket Balkum up to 15 meters by the TMC.  

Rohit Joshi, a local activist, has moved the high court along with NGO Vanashakti stating that the authorities have illegally carried out work on CRZ 1 areas without adhering to the regulations set out under the CRZ notification. “The reclamation of these ecologically sensitive areas near the coast will irreparably damage the coastal region and increase the risk of flooding in Thane,” read the petition.

A division bench of Justice A.S. Oka and Riyaz Chagla was hearing the matter on Wednesday. The order stated that, “The said respondents (TMC) will not dump debris and will not reclaim Thane Creek (east) near Kopri Mithibandar, Gaimukh Naglabunder, Saket Balkum and Mumbra Retibunder.”

The TMC had started construction work within the high tide line and around 70 acres of wetland. Also, the Gaimukh region has lost an entire stretch of mangroves.

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