The Bombay High Court has directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to undertake an extensive cleanliness drive at a natural pond in Sector 7, Charkop, Kandivali West, after expressing concern over the large-scale accumulation of garbage and encroachments affecting the water body.
A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge and Justice Gautam Ankhad issued the directions during the hearing of a petition seeking permission for the beautification and conservation of the pond, which is surrounded by mangrove vegetation.
The court’s intervention came after the BMC submitted recent photographs showing the condition of the pond. Expressing displeasure over the state of the water body, the judges observed, “It will shock the conscience of any prudent person as it depicts that the natural pond is virtually blocked.”
The bench directed the civic body to submit photographs of the site from the same angle after two weeks to assess the progress of cleaning work.
During the hearing, the BMC informed the court that it plans to construct a gabion wall around the pond to prevent further encroachments. However, the court stated that existing encroachments must first be removed and asked the municipal commissioner to take a “definite and firm stand” on the matter.
BMC’s advocate Saket Mone informed the court that the encroachments were located on collector land. He said the civic body had written to the deputy collector (encroachments) on May 8 regarding a slum area comprising around 100 to 150 huts and later sent a reminder on June 18, offering necessary support for demolition action.
Mone added that the BMC intends to develop a pathway, plantation area and a gabion wall along the pond’s edge. He said, “It will help with the ingress of saline water for the mangroves.”
After reviewing the photographs submitted by the civic body, the judges described them as “shocking”. Advocate Karl Tamboly, representing Bombay Environmental Action Group, also told the court that the latest images were worse than earlier photographs placed before it.
The court directed the state authorities to provide necessary instructions within two weeks and ordered the BMC to begin the garbage removal drive immediately. “We would not tolerate any garbage in that natural pond,” the judges said.
The court also directed the collector to initiate immediate action for removal of encroachments, observing that garbage and illegal structures were the primary reasons damaging the natural pond and affecting the surrounding mangroves. The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 6.
Source: The Times of India
