Airport faces chemical deluge

Effluents from Taloja units have ruined eco-system of rivers and water-bodies near Kharghar, Kamothe

Ashwin Aghor. TALOJA


Though Kharghar and Kamothe are becoming fastest growing nodes of the city due to rapid urbanisation in the wake of proposed international airport and thousands of people buying houses in these nodes, but the ground reality is different. Large scale industrial pollution in the area has made life difficult for people living here. Moreover, the chemical and industrial pollution would also be a major cause of concern once the Navi Mumbai International Airport is commissioned.There are several incidents wherein untreated chemical is dumped in water bodies in and around Kharghar. It has posed a grave threat to the lives of thousands of people living in the node.“The chemical industries in Taloja have been regularly dumping untreated waste around Kharghar despite action taken by the government officials.The waste is proving to be fatal not
only to humans, but also for the cattle who drink water from the ponds,” social activist from the area and member of Pragati Rahivasi Sangh, a social welfare NGO Kiran Patil said. According to Patil, chemical industries dump the waste near Taloja jail and on open space near Tata Memorial Hospital. “Residents of Owe and Kharghar are worst hit as the chemicals pollute the water bodies in the vicinity.Moreover, the chemical is used as fuel in nearby brick kilns which adds to air pollution to a great extent,”Patil said. Several residents have complained of skin infections, breathing problems and throat infections due to the chemical pollution. “We have repeatedly raised voice against illegal dumping of chemical waste in the area, but nothing has been done yet,” Patil said. The situation is worst during wee hours when various gases are released
from the industries. “Several residents of high rise buildings have complained of breathlessness and nausea due to the hazardous gas. Initially, it was mistaken to be gas leakage from domestic LPG cylinders, but thorough inspection revealed that the gases were being released from these industries,” Patil said.A senior official from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), who did not wish to be named, confirmed that there were complaints about pollution in the area. “We have received several complaints in this regard. Investigations and remedial actions are being undertaken to solve the problem,” the official said.“The chemical pollution around
Kharghar, Kamothe and Panvel is so high that we have to be highly cautious while consuming water. There is a high risk of health hazards due to the chemicals present in the ground water,”Patil said. The NGO has decided to build a strong public movement against rampant pollution in the area. He said that City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has plans to develop Taloja node in near future. “Various residential projects are currently under way in the area. Some of them are along the approach road to
the industrial area. The planning agency should take adequate precautions to provide healthy living conditions to people,” Patil said.

According to Stalin D, project officer with environmental NGO Vanashakti, “The stinking water
around international airport will be a big disappointment to travellers. Ideally, there should be clear water flowing around the airport when it is being constructed on the site like this.Moreover, the chemical effluents present in the water would definitely corrode the base and affect stability of the structure.” All attempts to contact CIDCO officials proved futile.

Water bodies in city to be mapped, preserved

Snehal Rebello, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, February 03, 2011


Taking stock of the city’s wetlands, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) for the first time will map all water bodies in Mumbai. “The city is rich with different types of wetlands. But there are no plans available for freshwater bodies or mangrove wetlands in the city,” said Anjali Parasnis, head, western gion, TERI, on the occasion of World Wetlands Day on Wednesday.

“Like it’s said that water will be the next subject of war. Hence, we need to preserve water bodies,” she added.

The institute will work in collaboration with the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA). The mapping will help respective civic bodies to request for funds allocated for preservation of wetlands from the ministry of water resources.

There are three types of wetlands — inland, coastal and man-made.

About 18.4% area of the country comprises wetlands. Of the 94 wetlands identified under the National Wetland Conservation and Management Programme, only three are in Maharashtra.

For the last few years, water bodies in and around Mumbai are facing pressures due to urbanisation, water pollution, land reclamation, debris dumping as well as sand dredging.

According to Parasnis, while there are huge funds available for protecting and conserving wetlands, most state governments including Maharashtra are not taking advantage of the allocations.

For instance, the National Lake Conservation Plan of the water ministry has allocated Rs 2,750 crore under the current Five Year Plan that started in 2009.

But till date, the amount is lying untouched.

TERI conducted an awareness programme at Rachana Sansad, Prabhadevi, on Wednesday to sensitise aspiring architects on the significance of wetlands, its preservation and the work TERI has done in Navi Mumbai to conserve them (see box).

“Before this session, I didn’t know about wetlands. This information will be useful when we enter the professional world,” said Kavita Bandekar, a first year architecture student.

Mangroves in Bhandup get breathing room

Viju B, Feb 3, 2011, 01.56am IST
Times of India


MUMBAI: Nandkumar Pawar knows all the marshy paths that lead into the thick mangrove forest along Thane creek like a veteran city guide. He has waded through these mudflats many a time to catch fish and crabs. But on Wednesday, Pawar and 15 other volunteers were at the creek for a different mission altogether: to remove garbage and plastic which was choking the mangroves near Bhandup.

The initiative couldn't have come at a more opportune time, with Wednesday being celebrated as World Wetlands Day around the globe. After arduous four hours, the group collected 300 kg of non-degradable waste: thermocol, plastic glass bottles and footwear. The waste was then carried away by a dumper vehicle provided by the BMC.

The initiative was undertaken by two NGOs-Vanashkati and Ekvira Pratishtan-in collaboration with the state forest department and the BMC. and cleaned up 200 acres of mangrove forest in Bhandup.

"The garbage was more than we had excepted. In many areas, it was choking the roots of mangroves," said D Stalin, project director, Vanshakti.

Senior forest department official said that they were looking at more community initiatives. "More citizen groups should take the initiative to protect mangroves in their neighborhood," Suresh Thorat chief conservator of forests, Thane circle, said.

Environmentalists said that wetlands play a crucial role in reducing the effects of global warming. They are also home to a variety of life forms. "The Thane creek is home to over nine species of true mangroves, and migratory birds like Lesser Flamingos, Greater Flamingos, Pied Avocets, Painted storks, Eurasian Spoonbills and black winged stilts. The site should be included in The Ramsar List of wetlands," Stalin said.

Environmentalists said if pollution due to discharge of effluents into creeks is controlled the ecosystems here will get a boost and the land will be a paradise for birds, marine life and countless other life forms found only in wetlands. "The city has five rivers, 68 lakes and thousands of acres of mangroves, besides beaches. It is a shame that we do not care to protect this natural assets. Not only are they important for the eco-system, they can also make up for the lack of open spaces in the city," Rishi Agarwal, secretary of Mangrove Society of India ( Mumbai) said.

‘Implement order within timeframe’

Snehal Rebello, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, February 01, 2011


Residents of the New Link Road Residents Forum who have been keeping vigil on the Dahisar mangroves from their balconies and terraces were thrilled with the Supreme Court order on Monday. The SC directed the Kandivli-based builder, Ravi Shah, who had destroyed mangroves in the area, to undo the damage.

“This judgment should be a precedent for builders with intentions of future development,” said Harish Pandey, member of the New Link Road Residents’ Forum. “It also paves the way for other citizens’ group to come together and work wonders.”

Residing about 150m away from the spot, Pandey added destruction of the mangroves would affect them directly, in case of natural calamities such as floods or tsunami.

The apex court’s judgment is based on the report filed in December by Principal Judge of the sessions court, ML Tahilyani, confirming several environmental violations by the builder. In his report, judge Tahilyani said the height and width of the bund had been increased leading to mangrove deaths. New bunds had been created, blocking seawater intrusion and also recorded that huge amounts of construction debris had been dumped on the mangroves.

Ahmad Abdi, the lawyer representing the residents’ forum, said that if the builder failed to restore the mangrove stretch within 60 days then the collector can take over the restoration of the land and recover the cost as land revenue from the builder.

Environmental activist Rishi Aggarwal said the order should be implemented within the timeframe set by the court. “Though a welcome judgment, the key will be the execution of the order,” he said.

Last April, Shah began repairs of a bund (embankment), which had been defunct since 1993, following a SC ruling in his favour. The ruling had categorically directed the petitioner not to destroy the mangroves. The builder cut off the flow of seawater into the mangrove patch. The collector issued a stop work order, which was challenged by the builder in a contempt plea in SC.

In August, the Bombay Environment Action Group filed a petition in the SC after the builder initiated contempt proceedings against the collector. The New Link Road Residents’ Forum filed an intervention application.

 “It is a significant order; given that it was a question of over 400 acres. Since mangroves are sturdy, they have survived the test for six months. But they would soon start dying. But citizens must be allowed to walk around that area so as to monitor it,” said Stalin D, project director, Vanashakti, an environment non-government organisation.

Xavier’s kids on mangrove trail

DNA : Daily News & Analysis; Mumbai, Jan 12, 2011 | 

by Aghor, Ashwin

The students of St Xavier's High School, Airoli had a refreshing day recently when environmental NGO Vanashakti organised a trail in city's mangrove cover for them.
In all 32 students of standard eight and nine participated in the one-day session on mangrove ecosystem. The trails were conducted for the students in two batches of 16 members each. The 90 minute trail exposed the students to the world of mangroves, its floral and faunal diversity, their varied adaptations, their significance to the biodiversity that they harbour to the fishing communities that depend on the mangroves for their livelihood, to the economy and the world at large besides the threats posed to them. Four species of true mangroves namely Avicennia marina, Sonneratia apetala, Excoecaria agallocha, Rhizhophora apiculata and five mangrove associate species namely Acanthus illicifolius, Salvadora persica, Derris trifoliata, Thespesia populnea and Sesuvium portulacastrum were seen.
"The students were amazed to know the uniqueness of the aerial roots like pneumatophores, stilt roots etc besides their structures and functions in the different mangrove species. Various birds like grey-backed shrike, scaly-breasted munia, white-cheeked bulbul, ashy prinia, tailor bird, marsh harrier, little cormorant, little egret, intermediate egret, pond heron, common sandpiper, terek sandpiper, red-wattled lapwing and black-headed ibis were also noticed. They also saw terrestrial slug species during the trail like fiddler crabs with their protective clay mound, mangrove crabs, mudskippers and telescopium," said Stalin D of Vanashakti.
He added that dried scat found in the trail helped the experts to explain the students that how a coprologist uses the scat of an animal to determine its habitat, herbivore presence, food preference, prey base and the other animals present in the territory to whom the scat belongs. "This helped the students to be vigilant for indirect evidences for a mammal's presence in a forest area during the trail," he said. The students also noted the solid waste accumulated especially lot of plastic material and thermocol on the muddy substrate of the tidal forest.
An interactive session was conducted to conclude the trail where students asked several questions on mangroves, birds, crustaceans etc. The trail was followed by the screening of a 30-minute documentary on the migratory birds visiting Mumbai.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102602147344200278001/StXavierSHighSchoolAiroli?authkey=Gv1sRgCLL9i7DFwsySGA&feat=directlink 

Vanashakti to organize quiz competition on environment awareness for teachers

  DNA. Sunday; Mumbai, Jan 16, 2011 

After inclusion of Environmental Science in the curriculum, teachers have been teaching the subject but rarely got an opportunity to update their knowledge. Now with an inter-school teachers quiz contest on environment and forests of India, organised by Vanashakti, an environmental NGO, teachers from across the city have got an opportunity not only to update their knowledge but also to gauge where they stand.
"The contest is open for all the teachers, irrespective of the subject they teach. Hundreds of teachers from 25 schools each from Navi Mumbai and Mumbai will participate in the competition," said Kavita Mallya, project officer, Vanashakti. There are several contests for students. But this time, the one has been organised for teachers.
The contest will be held in two phases - preliminary and final rounds. The preliminary round of the contest began on Saturday with participation of 20 teachers from MGM School, Nerul. "The top two winners of preliminary round from each school will compete in the final round. The preliminary round is written test with multiple choice questions and the final round will be audio visual quiz," Mallya said.
The winners of preliminary round will get a certificate of participation and a memento while, the winners in final round will get a cash prize, certificate and a trophy. "Deserving students from the winning schools will also get scholarships, apart from the prizes to the winning teachers," Mallya said. The contest will prove to be a good opportunity of performance assessment of teachers and scope for further enhancement of knowledge, she added.

23 NOV :India approves new airport for Mumbai

AFP/File – Mangroves and farmland at the site of the proposed Chinchpada airport on the outskirts of Mumbai. India …

by Rupam Jain Nair – Mon Nov 22, 9:21 am ET

NEW DELHI (AFP) – India gave the green light on Monday for the construction of a second international airport in the commercial capital Mumbai, a two billion dollar project that was ten years in the making.

"Today, formally the environmental clearance has been given to the Navi Mumbai Project," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told a press conference in New Delhi.

The massive new 90 billion rupee airport will be situated in Navi Mumbai or New Mumbai, a booming suburb 50 kilometres (30 miles) southeast of the centre of the city of 18 million people.

Environmentalists had opposed the project on the grounds that it would upset the delicate ecological balance of nearby protected tidal wetland areas.

Under the initial plans, thousands of hectares of mangrove trees and shrubs, which act as a natural buffer against the sea and coastal erosion, would have been removed and waterways re-routed .

"If they want, they can start construction of the airport from today," Ramesh said. "From an environmental point of view, this has been a very major compromise that has been reached."

Ramesh said the compromise would save part of the mangroves and avoid moving one of the rivers. A hill in the area will still be flattened, however, he said.

An official in the environment ministry told AFP that the project might still face a court challenge from activists and it is also likely to run into opposition from local villagers who fear being moved without adequate compensation.

The facility is expected to handle up to 40 million passengers a year by the time it is fully operational in 2030.

Its approval marks a victory for business leaders, who have long campaigned for the new airport, the first phase of which is scheduled to open in 2012.

They had warned that investment in India's wider economy could be hit if there were further delays to an airport that would service Mumbai, the country's financial capital and home to the Bollywood film industry.

The development of major infrastructure projects in India is slow due to complicated administrative procedures, labyrinthine legal processes and strict environmental and land rights regulations.

The government has also promised to amend the existing law for the forced acquisition of land for public purposes, passed in 1994, which is seen as critical to speed up large public infrastructure projects.

Environmentalists in Mumbai termed the new airport proposal "a destructive project" and said they will continue their fight to save the mangroves.

"By giving the permission for the airport, the government has now opened the entire coastline for development projects. This will be disastrous," said Stalin Dayanand from Vanashakti (Forest Power), a non-government organisation in Mumbai.

"Mangroves protect Mumbai. We cannot remove them," he said.

Appearing at the press conference with Ramesh, Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the ministries would look into the environmental issues.

"It is our concern and joint responsibility to address issues of the environment," Patel said, adding that in reducing the damage to the ecosystem, aviation safety had not been compromised.

Passenger numbers at the existing Mumbai International Airport have increased three-fold since 2005, reflecting an overall increase in demand for air travel among the country's emerging middle classes.

The airport is nearing capacity and can not expand further as it is hemmed in on three sides by slums.