A massive debris mound inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) near Borivli East has triggered allegations of illegal landfilling, water extraction, and an organised land grab attempt.
Continuous construction debris dumping has transformed a green patch into a hillock-like structure, say vigilantes, in this case environmentalists and residents. An official did respond that they will look into the same, and the authorities concerned will be informed if illegal dumping of debris has been done but we want to hear that action will be taken when investigations reveal this is indeed the case.
We have seen that several green areas/open spaces have become convenient construction debris dumping zones. This is because these are relatively isolated, and large swathes or entire patches may be unmanned. It is all too convenient for debris to be quietly dumped here, sometimes even late at night under the cover of darkness, and so go undetected. It may also be that these spots may be close to construction or other sites, making the trip especially short and more economical for those who want to discard this rubbish.
In this particular instance, the fact that an entire hillock can come up there with little to no notice, till flagged by environmentalists, points to negligence, which is exploited by some. Even dead ends in the city become dump spots. Then, we have little-used lanes or corners that become rubbish heaps. SGNP is one of our green emeralds in the city. Let us ensure we preserve it with vigilance, respect and show gratitude for having a forest within a burgeoning, cement ‘n’ steel megapolis.