A well-known environmentalist, Stalin Dayanand, has lodged a complaint with state and forest authorities over environmental degradation at the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Gaimukh and Chena, near Thane's Ghodbunder Road.
Stalin, a member of the committee formed by the high court to protect mangroves and wetlands said, "It is shocking how a cement mixing firm (casting yard) is operating in an ESZ."
"Also, the illegal scrapyard means that Chena is now vulnerable to chemical pollution. The forest and state authorities must arise from their stupor and act against these hazardous activities within the ESZ before further destruction occurs," Stalin added.
He presented images showing a car scrapyard next to the Chena River and a casting yard at Gaimukh.
Stalin emphasized that despite a previous court order, forest officials have not officially taken any satellite images of the casting yard or scrapyard, even though the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board's response to the green activist's query stated that no permission has been granted for either location.
"The high court has ordered that satellite imagery should be used to monitor and protect forests. Government agencies, especially the forest department, fail to do even this part. Also, see the photos submitted by me that show massive amounts of polluting cement sludge being dumped in the open and flowing out," said Stalin.
An SGNP official said, "We will study Stalin's complaint and the photos given and look into this matter soon."
"The entire stretch from Owala to Gaimukh will look like a shabby degraded industrialized and urbanized zone if left unchecked," said Stalin.
"The ESZ monitoring committee is genuinely operational, with the exception of ecological preservation. It is depressing that we must constantly go to court in order to address environmental issues," he added.
