Mumbai: Local fishermen and NGOs have alleged that Naval Establishment Ins Hamla had barricaded mangroves area at Marve, Malad in the month of October 2022 and started the dumping of debris at the barricaded site.

“ The area being barricaded is having minor creek inlets, where local fishermen anchor their fishing boats during monsoon season” alleged Godfrey Pimenta of Watchdog Foundation and Bombay East Indian Association.

Recently land survey of was carried jointly by City Survey Officer, Malad, officials of Forest Department and Personnel of Indian Navy at Ins Hamala, Marve areas under mangroves adjoining Malad Marve Road barricaded with Iron bars and barbed wire by personnel of INS Hamala.

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Indian Navy has denied dumping of debris in Mangroves and claimed the dumping of debris is far from away at the perimeter fencing for leveling of soil for creating temporary labour camp.

“It appears to be efforts at misleading people by encroachers who have vacate the illegally occupied defence property,” said a defence spokesperson.

The local fishermen fear that once the areas under mangroves is barricaded, the INS Hamala officials will bar their entry and thereby it will have direct impact on their livelihoods.

“INS Hamla officials have destroyed a lake opposite its main Gate at Marve by dumping debris. Our repeated complaints in past are being ignored by all concerned authorities. local Malvani Police Station as well as P/North Ward Office, BMC has also ignored our complaints in the past,” claimed local fisherman Vishal Tandel.