Encroachers must be dealt with firmly

Representative Image

Just a couple of days ago, the city marked Environment Day with a number of heart-warming initiatives. There were massive beach clean-ups, the BMC's week-long drive to rid trees of nails, cables and advertisement posters saw huge response and an app was launched to take people on a virtual safari.

All this proves that greening or environmental awareness is becoming part of our lives. Mammoth efforts have shown some results.

Yet, there are also reminders that we have a long way to go. On the same day we had a report here that stated taking serious note of the illegal encroachments on mangrove land in Versova, the Mangrove Cell has begun a demolition drive and cleared 51 huts.

Top officials of the Mangrove Cell shared photos of the demolition on Twitter, earning applause from green warriors. Those congratulations came with caution though as the activists underlined the importance of forming a mechanism to prevent encroachments from forming at the outset itself. In this demolition drive referenced over 50 staffers played a part. The Mangrove Cell top brass claimed that they would deploy guards at the spot so that these hutments do not come up once again.

The paper has focussed on how we have a culture where a problem grows, is allowed to grow either through negligence or turning a wilful blind eye, and action is taken only after it acquires gargantuan proportions or a huge tragedy takes place. This is especially true of encroachment. You see one and suddenly the encroachers sneak up on you and entire swathes of land, mangroves, footpaths… depends on where the encroachment is, is taken away.

Act at the outset so that the problem is nipped in the bud. There has to be an iron will, alertness and an absolute not negotiable approach when it comes to weeding out encroachers. Action should begin even if there is just one.