Mumbai is sinking

A city full of paradoxes, Mumbai is mini India in many ways. And it is fast being pushed towards the path marked with destruction through development. While environmentalists are trying their best to achieve sustainable development, bureaucracy and politics is the major hindrance to it.
As a result of mindless development and subsequent large scale tree felling coupled with ever increasing population the acute problem of environmental degradation has relegated into oblivion. On July 26, 2005, city witnessed biggest ever disaster solely resulting due to environmental abuse. Despite the devastation, the policymakers have not learnt a lesson and continued with the developmental activities. The authorities have failed to foresee the consequences of tampering with the environment.
Mangroves are an integral part of the landscape of Mumbai. And the worst hit by the development and lack of political will power to protect it. The city has lost almost 40 per cent of mangrove forest over the recent past.
According to Debi Goenka of Conservation Action Trust, despite the statutory protection since February 19, 1991, when the CRZ notification came into force, mangroves have been systematically destroyed, very often with the active connivance of the agencies that are supposed to protect them. “Mangrove destruction is going on despite the order of court. Fortunately, because of court orders, we have been successful in getting 5,500 hectares of mangroves declared as protected forests,” he said.
Goenka feels that the air quality in the city actually improved four years ago when the High Court orders to convert taxis to CNG and to phase out commercial vehicles that were more than 8 years old, came into effect. “Unfortunately, all the gains made by these orders have been offset by the increase in the vehicle population. There is a serious need to enforce restrictions in the use of private vehicles in the island city,” Goenka said. The frequency of the suburban trains also needs to be increased. One air conditioned compartment should also be attached to every local train, he feels.
The rampant and unchecked construction activities in Mumbai have placed an intolerable stress on the infrastructure and have resulted in increased air and noise pollution. “Our few remaining hills are being ruthlessly destroyed. Our ponds and water bodies are being systematically reclaimed. And the Mumbaikar is totally apathetic to this open rape of the environment,” Goenka said. This is the ultimate tragedy. If people expressed their concerns, Government would be forced to take action, he added.