Authority to monitor wetlands in offing, Maha govt tells HC

Maharashtra government today told the Bombay High Court that an authority for monitoring wetlands in the state would be constituted within four weeks while an expert committee has confirmed that wetlands in neighbouring Vasai are being destroyed due to construction.
A division bench, headed by Justice V M Kanade, was hearing a public interest litigation by Vanashakti, an NGO, which alleges destruction of wetlands in suburban Malwani, Dahisar, Vasai, Esselworld, Oshiwara, Kanakia Nagar in Mira Road, Kasheli in Thane and Palm Beach Road area in Navi Mumbai.
The NGO alleges police did not heed the complaints in this regard. However, government pleader G W Mattos said today that police were not empowered to take action in these matters but Maharashtra Pollution Control Board was.

The government would ask MPCB to act against those responsible, he said.
The government today also submitted a report of an expert committee which inspected two wetland sites in Vasai tehsil of neighbouring Thane district. The High Court asked the government to submit by March 11 reports on six other sites the committee has inspected or is going to inspect.
As per the committee's report, wetlands on the southern fringe of Vasai creek, adjacent to Jesal Park and Kanakia Nagar, are being destroyed and the land is being reclaimed for construction.