36-sq-km growth in mangrove cover in 2 years: FSI report

Forest dept credits its Mangrove Cell, but environmentalists dispute figures, say much more needs to be done.

Maharashtra has seen the highest rise in mangrove cover across the country in the last two years, recording a phenomenal growth of 36 square kilometres, according to a Forest Survey of India (FSI) report. Considering that Maharashtra has only 4 per cent of the total mangrove cover in India, this is a huge growth as the state alone contributes 32 per cent growth to the Indian mangrove forests.

Explaining how Maharashtra managed to achieve the feat, N Vasudevan, Chief Conservator of Forests, Mangrove Cell, said the growth of mangrove cover had been coincidental with creation of the mangrove cell in Maharashtra, a unique initiative by the state government. “The mangrove cell began its activities in 2013 and since then we have seen the mangrove area increasing from 186 sq km to 222 sq km — a rise of almost 20 per cent. The mangrove cell undertakes intensive patrolling of the mangrove forests and when we receive complaints regarding encroachments or dumping, we take strong action. We have demolished at least 2,500 hutments in mangrove areas. Further, we have also undertaken plantation in degraded mangrove forest areas.”

These figures are, however, at variance with a state government report that says the mangrove cover has reduced in the last two years. The state government had made this report in compliance with a Bombay High Court order that asked it to label all mangrove forests on government land as ‘protected forests’.

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Rubbishing the FSI report, environmentalist Debi Goenka said, “The report is inaccurate and the cell has not been doing much for the mangroves. Our experience with the lower-level officers has been largely negative. When we file a complaint, they come after a long time for inspection and say they found nothing. Even with regard to plantation, we have not seen a positive trend. Ten years ago, 500 acres of mangroves were destroyed in Malad creek and nothing has been done in that area for re-plantation.”

Activist Vinod Punshi, president of the Navi Mumbai Environment Preservation Society, said he was happy the FSI report showed a positive trend for the mangroves. But, he said, there were areas where mangroves were still being destroyed, adding that the authorities should pay attention to those areas.

Punshi is also a member of the Navi Mumbai Mangroves Protection Coordination Committee, which was set up by the Bombay High Court for the protection of mangroves. “The court has asked us to meet every month and submit the minutes of the meeting to the court. We had our first meeting in November and we have taken some positive decisions for conservation of mangroves. We have decided to install CCTV cameras to prevent dumping of debris in the area. The forest department has destroyed 806 hutments and 14 godowns in the last three weeks in Vashi.”

Vasudevan also attributed the growth of mangrove cover to increased awareness among the people regarding mangrove conservation. He said, “The media, citizens and the high court has played a crucial role in bringing this growth.”

benita.chacko@expressindia.com

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