Mumbai: Land sharks now circle govt of India land in Green Zone

A truck on the site to dump debris

Are the authorities turning a blind eye to illegal activities on land belonging to the Union government in the green zone? City-based environmentalist Stalin D on Thursday alleged that a parcel of central government land in Mankhurd was being illegally taken over by a slum mafia in broad daylight. Activities paused only after he complained to the environment minister and the BMC.

A truck dumps the debris on the land

Truckloads of debris were dumped on the land adjacent to MTNL Telephone Exchange, Mankhurd, said Stalin from NGO Vanashakti. "Over the past three days, more than a hundred dumpers have unloaded debris on the site. What is shocking is that this is happening on a plot that is a green zone and belongs to the central government. The activities stopped after I complained about it to the authorities on Wednesday, but a lot of damage has already been done."

"I think dumping was going on in broad daylight to prepare this land for the slum mafia and shockingly the police kept looking the other way," said Stalin. "We have keptthe site under observation and will follow up if needed. Hope the concerned officials and the BMC take necessary action against those responsible."

The environmentalist also tweeted about it and tagged Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray and the BMC, requesting them to instruct the local police to stop the illegal activities and arrest the culprit.

Debris on the land in Mankhurd

Minesh Pimple, deputy chief engineer, Solid Waste Management, BMC, said, "After receiving the complaint, our team visited the spot on Thursday but at that point there were no trucks. It is true that dumping has taken place on the plot belonging to BSNL and our local ward office has written to the concerned officials and asked them to protect their plot."

It may be noted that time and again mid-day has also highlighted how the open lands and plots in the city are being illegally taken over by slum mafias and how the huts that are constructed are sold for a few lakhs each.