Navi Mumbai mangroves to be free of bunds

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The forest department (FD) on Sunday started removing manmade bunds which were blocking intertidal water flow to mangroves at Kamothe and Kharghar areas of Navi Mumbai.

This can save around 3,000 mangroves. The removal was ordered by Range Forest Officer of Mangrove Cell-Navi Mumbai ML Manjare, who has earlier complained to the police and revenue departments about the bunds.

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"Work at Kamothe was completed. At Kharghar, the periphery was cleared by an excavator, four staffers and four labourers, partially restoring tidal water flow. A large portion still remains to be cleared," an FD official said.