Navi Mumbai | Aug 08, 2016: After the Mahad bridge collapse in Raigad district, city-based environmentalists have demanded that taluka officials and other government agencies implement stringent checks to ensure no illegal sand mining near the four main bridges.
The activists stated that rampant sand mining was weakening the foundations of bridges and caused turbulent river flow, leading to problems like bridge collapses.
"It is high time that illegal activities like sand mining be stopped, especially near bridges, or we are likely to face more such disasters as the one at Mahad last week. While I have written to the state chief minister, a lot more ground work needs to be done to check this menace," said activist, Sumaira Abdulali, of the Awaaz Foundation.
Abdulali has lodged several complaints with Raigad district officials about sand mining in rivers like the Savitri at Mahad, where the bridge collapsed.
RTI activist Anarjit Chauhan said, "In Navi Mumbai, we are especially concerned about illegal activities close to the Kharghar-Mansarovar railway bridge, Panvel-Uran link bridge, Belapur-Uran link bridge and the old Vashi bridge. Till about a fortnight ago, Panvel taluka officials had raided a creek site next to the Kharghar-Mansarovar bridge after I had complained about sand mining there. There is a real and present danger to our vital infrastructure from such operations."
In the past few years, sand mining has also been reported close to the Panvel-Uran and Belapur-Uran bridges. This disrupts the environment and the eco-system, including mangroves, within CRZ areas.
Panvel tehsildar Deepakl Akade said, "We regularly take action on sand mining in various areas. Also, if there are further suggestions from the public and environmentalists, we will certainly go through them to safeguard public properties."
Another city activist, Hemant Sharma of Disha Parivartan Foundation, told TOI, "Besides regular coastal patrolling, the state government must announce awards of Rs 5,000 per tip-off for illegal sand mining. This will end the racket. All that is needed is political will."
Illegal sand mining near the Vaitarna railway bridge was stopped following complaints to the railways.
(Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/)