Mumbai: State forest minister Ganesh Naik told the assembly on Thursday that the state is taking strong action, including against private companies responsible for destroying mangroves in the Borivali area. He also said that it would work on restoring mangrove cover.The issue was raised by BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay who complained about the rampant destruction of mangroves in the Borivali area. “There is rampant corruption among officials and government land is being swallowed with the destruction of mangrove cover,” said Upadhyay.He said that there had been three types of violations: within areas under the mangrove department, cases in privately owned mangrove areas and cases within the 50-metre buffer zone near mangrove areas.Naik said that cases had been registered and encroachments were being removed. In privately owned mangrove areas for instance, permanent houses, mangrove sheds and godowns were found. Cases had been registered under the Environment Protection Act. Encroachments were found in areas under the Mangrove department and within the buffer zone, said Naik. Cases of land filling and dumping of iron materials, cement and sheet godowns were also found, he said.“We are taking strong action in these cases. Even private parties involved in this will not be spared,” said Naik.
