NatConnect Foundation

The NatConnect Foundation has exposed JNPT's lack of mangrove records in its area through an RTI application. This revelation raises concerns over deliberate attempts to landfill around 900 hectares of sea forest. The NGO's efforts have prompted Government authorities to initiate investigations into alleged mangrove destruction by JNPT SEZ in the Uran area without CRZ clearance. Environmentalists are urging Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's intervention to prevent further mangrove destruction, as the NGO emphasizes the importance of conserving these vital ecosystems.

The NatConnect Foundation has succeeded in halting the development activities of Navi Mumbai SEZ and CIDCO at the Panje wetland in Uran, Mumbai, through the intervention of Maharashtra Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray. After numerous complaints from environmental groups, Minister Thackeray ordered an immediate stop to all ongoing construction at the site. Responding to an RTI application, it was revealed that CIDCO did not receive environmental clearance from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Development Authority (MCZMA) for the development plan of the Dronagiri node, due to concerns about mangrove destruction and debris dumping. The Foundation expressed satisfaction with the Minister's actions but emphasized the need for continued vigilance against unauthorized dumping and destruction in eco-sensitive areas.

NatConnect Foundation's RTI application has yielded significant results in addressing the issue of mangrove destruction in the eco-sensitive Uran area of Navi Mumbai. The Foundation sought information from the Revenue And Forest Department about the massive mangrove destruction by various entities, including JNPT, NHAI, and NMSEZ, and the actions taken in response. With initial inquiries leading to no response, the Foundation pursued a First Appeal, which led to discussions with Virendra Tiwari, Additional Chief Conservator of Forests, Maharashtra Government. Notably, Tiwari, now heading the mangrove cell, subsequently wrote to CIDCO and district collectors, urging them to transfer wetlands for conservation efforts. The Foundation's persistence demonstrates the effectiveness of its RTI approach in prompting actions to protect vital ecosystems.