Mumbai: Bombay High Court has directed the district collector (Mumbai suburbs) to remove encroachments next to a natural pond in Sector 7, Charkop, Kandivli (W) without favouring anyone.“It will be highly appreciable if the district administration initiates steps without being influenced by any person, howsoever high a position he may be occupying and ensures that the encroachment is removed without showing any favour to any person,” said a bench led by Acting Chief Justice Ravindra Ghuge on August 14.BMC had sought HC’s permission to carry out beautification and conservation of the pond due to the presence of mangroves. The collector in the April 13 affidavit stated that notices have been issued to encroachers and, after considering their documents, which indicate their title and interest in the property, steps would be taken within six weeks from Oct 1 to remove all encroachments and clear the area.The judges directed that after “removal of these entire encroachments”, the district administration will plant mangrove saplings. They would monitor the progress to ensure the collector’s affidavit is not an “eye-wash”.They also simultaneously allowed BMC to proceed with the proposed beautification. They directed it to ensure “ecological balance” of the pond and mangroves, “which is a part of the biodiversity, is not disturbed or damaged by the beautification exercise.”
