Navi Mumbai: The Wetlands Protection Panel of the Bombay High Court has directed CidCo to open five chok points in Panje in Uran, to allow dry-free dry water to dry drying ground.
The panel made this decision at their meeting on Monday, which has been welcomed by green activists.
Taking the problem filed by Stalin D committee members, Chairman of the Committee and Commissioner of the Conkkan Division Vilas Patil emphasized that the water flow must be maintained which is also directed by NGT.
The western region of NGT, meanwhile, is scheduled to hold the next hearing in the case on November 9 before CidCo should submit action taken.
Stalin also strongly advocated the revocation of leasing Panje wetlands to private companies, to preserve this wetland correctly.
In addition, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has categorized the area as CRZ-1.
The chairman of the committee feels that revocation can be considered if there is a violation.
Meanwhile, Panje Wetland has dried up again after the Monsun wet spell threatens the biodiversity, Director of the Natconnect B Foundation B N Kumar, has complained to the Chairman of the Minister of Uddhav Thackeray.
Thackeray has asked the forest and urban development department to see Natconnect’s suggestion to declare Panje Wetland as a biodiversity park and preserve mangrove water and surrounding mangroves.
Kumar has regretted that even though there were CM instructions on the environment, UD and the Department of Forest, violations at Panje continued.
It is important to preserve wetlands not only from the point of view of environmental protection but for flight safety at the upcoming Navi Mumbai international airport.
Thousands of migration birds that are accustomed to landing on Panje will cause flutter on the airport yard if they miss their traditional landing places, Kumar said quoting BNHS studies.
Nandakumar Pawar, Head of Shri Ekvira Aai Pratryhtan, who filed a petition at NGT trying to restore the flow of tidal water to Panje Wetland, said the government must now decide to save according to a highly proclaimed pro-environment stand.
Pawar asked: “Is it time for the government to take a walk?” Meanwhile, the deadlock on the status of the wetland Panje continued with the green group that showed a 300-hectare side of 300 hectares fulfilling the definition of ramsar conventions from wetlands and CidCo denying this and clinging to the gun.
Because India is the signing of the Ramsar Convention, it is the task of the government to respect it and save wetlands, Kumar said in the letter to Thackeray.
The State Mangrove Foundation also expressed his desire to preserve Panje and four other Navi Mumbai wetlands – Bellah, Bhendkhal, NRI and TS Chanakya – as part of a satellite wetland from the sanctuation of Flamingo Thane Creek (TCFS) that has been suggested by BNHS.
Navi Mumbai: ‘Restore Tidal Flow to Panje’
