The land mafia has allegedly built a makeshift road by dumping construction debris on a patch of mangroves near Thane, with an environmentalist accusing authorities of turning a blind eye to the brazen destruction of green cover. The road stretches over 1 km, said Stalin D from NGO Vanashakti. He fears some structures will be built on the spot and sold to unsuspecting buyers.

Stalin wondered how the police and officials from the local body have failed to notice the dumping of hundreds of truckloads of waste into the coastal wetland at Anjur-Dive village. He said the area sits within the limits of the Bhiwandi Nijampur Municipal Council.