Calangute forum files plaint over beach vegetation damage
Calangute Constituency Forum
(CCF) on Thursday lodged a complaint before the chief secretary and other authorities against a developer for destroying beach vegetation on a property.
Beach vegetation on the property bearing survey no. 208/1C of Calangute village has been destroyed, violating the
Environmental Protection Act
and a high court order.
CCF president Premanand Divkar said, 'It is evident that these actions not only threaten the biodiversity and ecological balance of our coastal areas but also undermine community efforts to promote
sustainability
and protect our natural resources.'
Destroying beach vegetation can cause erosion, loss of habitat, and reduce recreational options for locals and tourists.
'As per the provisions of the Environmental Protection Act 1986, it is imperative that immediate action is taken to investigate this matter and hold those responsible accountable for their actions. Additionally, measures must be implemented to prevent further destruction of beach vegetation and restore damaged areas,' Divkar said in the complaint.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Time of India
Maharashtra legislative council member Anil Parab alleges mangrove destruction and land filling in Andheri CRZ
Mumbai: About 350 acres of land near the coastal and mangrove areas of Lokhandwala Back Road in Andheri (West) is being illegally levelled by cutting mangroves and trees and filling the land and it is leading to severe environmental and biodiversity degradation, said Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab during a calling attention motion in the legislative council on Monday. Despite being within a 50-metre buffer zone from private properties, unauthorised filling was reported, violating the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules, 2011, and the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, said Parab. In her reply, environment and climate change minister Pankaja Munde said that an FIR was registered and a Rs 27 crore penalty imposed on those violating rules. Of the 350 acres, 70 acres were in the development zone, of which 35 acres were reserved for the National Law University, said the minister. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Parab countered her, saying: "The area has been a habitat for migratory birds for many years, and the illegal filling destroyed their habitat, causing mangrove loss and obstructing natural water flow, increasing the risk of coastal flooding and other disasters, impacting Mumbai's environmental safety. The govt's negligence in addressing this issue highlights the urgent need for a thorough investigation, immediate removal of unauthorised filling, environmental impact assessment, and strict legal action under MPDA (Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drug Offenders, and Dangerous Persons Act). " Munde said that she will institute an inquiry committee. She informed the house that she will personally visit the site, along with the guardian minister and council members, to check the violations — especially whether mangroves are impacted. In that case, she will take stringent action. Parab, during his speech over the calling attention motion, said there were 2,500 vehicles spotted lately for the landfill. "My demand is that the land filling should be stopped and stringent action taken. Such a huge area has been encroached in the prime part of the city, and the state should take this seriously," he said. Deputy chairperson of the council Neelam Gorhe said that it was an important discussion on a serious issue. "The outcome should be time-bound. The minister should expedite the setting up of the inquiry panel and also visit the site at the earliest to verify the extent of violations," she said. Sachin Ahir of the Shiv Sena (UBT) said that such CRZ violations were seen in other parts of western suburbs as well.
Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Indian Express
HC dismisses pleas against govt decision to give Mayor's bungalow for Thackeray Memorial
The Bombay High Court Tuesday dismissed petitions challenging permission given by the Maharashtra Government to convert the Mayor's Bungalow in the city's Shivaji Park area into a memorial for late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. The court said that it did not find any valid ground for challenging the decision. The division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Sandeep V Marne noted that the work of setting up of the memorial is 'virtually complete' and that it is a policy decision by the government in which the court is not inclined to interfere. It said that the petitioners who filed the PILs were not opposed to the memorial itself and their challenge to the site chosen by the government was outside the scope of judicial review. 'When it comes to setting up of memorials for leaders and persons revered for their contribution, it is also well settled that such act constitutes a public purpose and decision of the executive to set up a memorial to commemorate such persons, is a matter of policy of the State,' the court said. A Government Resolution was issued in 2016 granting approval for setting up of the memorial at Mayor's Bungalow and for constitution of a public trust, the Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak Samiti, for the purpose and its construction is nearly complete. 'This court also takes notice of the fact that the work of setting up of the Memorial is virtually complete by now. Mr. Khambata (senior advocate appearing for the trust) a has taken us through the photographs of the site, which shows that the grandiose structure of Mayor's Bungalow has not only been kept intact, but has been restored. Its heritage significance is not disturbed. Since the work of setting up of the Memorial is virtually complete by now, this could be yet another reason for this Court not to interfere in the impugned decisions and actions,' the court said. Four Public Interest Litigations (PIL) by activists and NGO Jan Mukti Morcha, challenged the decision, claiming that the proposed construction violated the Environmental Protection Act and the Coastal Zone Regulation notification. The petitioners also claimed that since the bungalow, built in 1928, is a heritage structure, it cannot be converted into a memorial. Lawyer Uday Warunjikar appearing for the NGO submitted before the court that decision by the state government was arbitrary and that the petitioners are not opposing the setting up of a memorial for Thackeray but the site chosen and the manner in which the trust is set up, like a 'private trust'. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the state government opposed the petitions stating that the plot on which the memorial is to be constructed does not fall within green zone anymore, since it was earmarked for residential zone through a government notification, as per provisions of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act. Senior advocate Darius Khambata appearing for the Trust said that all procedure was followed in the allotment of the bungalow. Senior advocate Anil Sakhare appearing for the BMC said the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee had given a no-objection for the proposed change of the bungalow to a memorial museum. The civic body also submitted that all necessary procedures were followed for its construction. The court also noted that while the petitioners challenged the composition of the trust, calling it a 'family affair', only three of its 11 members are members of Shiv Sena, two of whom, Thackeray's son, Uddhav, and grandson, Aditya, are actual family members. 'After all, late Balasaheb Thackeray founded Shiv Sena political party and it can hardly be contended that the decision of the State Government in taking on board three members of that party, two out of whom are infact family members of late Balasaheb Thackeray, would amount to arbitrariness,' the court said. It also said that any land chosen in Mumbai would have been valuable and hence the allotment of the land on lease with a nominal rent of Re 1, is also a policy decision it cannot interfere with.
United News of India
01-07-2025
- United News of India
HC dismiss PIL challenging move to convert Mayor bungalow into Thackeray memorial
Mumbai, July 1 (UNI) The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Maharashtra government's decision of 2017 to convert an old Mumbai mayor bungalow at Shivaji Park in Dadar area of central Mumbai into a memorial for late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. The division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Sandeep V Marne dismissed the petition during the hearing of the PIL filed by social activist Bhagwanji Riyani, challenging the decision, claiming that the proposed construction violated the Environmental Protection Act and the Coastal Zone Regulation notification. The petitioners also claimed that since the bungalow, built in 1928, is a heritage structure, it cannot be converted into a memorial. The PIL before the court also challenged the state government's decision to allocate ₹100 crore as a budget for setting up the memorial. The PIL also assailed an amendment to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act by which BMC was allowed to leave an immovable property of the corporation to any person at a nominal rate of ₹1 per annum. The petition said that the entire machinery was being moved for a private individual when the amount could be used for other important things. The Maharashtra government in its response said it was the state's discretion to allot land and money for the memorial. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) also defended the construction and told the High Court that all requisite permissions were obtained and procedures followed before allotting land for the memorial. In its affidavit filed before the High Court, the BMC stated that due process of law had been followed before allotting land for the memorial in Mumbai at a nominal rate. The bench passed the order after hearing both petitioner and respondents at length. UNI AAA PRS
