NAVI MUMBAI: The over 31.8 km long Waldhuni river, which originates from Kakola hills in Ambernath and later joins the Ulhas river in Kalyan, has been encroached upon and damaged at various sites due to landfills, concretization, according to green activists.
Environmentalist D Stalin of Vanashakti NGO has complained to various state authorities, including the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the environment department urging them to save the river from further harm.
Stalin, who is also a member of the high court appointed wetlands protection committee, has submitted detailed photos of the landfilling, concretization and other problems affecting Waldhuni river.
“I had recently inspected the river stretch at Ambernath and it is surprising that the floodplains and catchment areas of Waldhuni are being encroached through debris dumping, construction plots for buildings, at at certain sections, the forest is being cleared, while the river has been reduced to a narrow concrete nala, near the landmark Shiv Mandir site.. This is very wrong, and will lead to flooding in the future,” said Stalin.
“The PIL 14 of 2014 in the Bombay high court which was transferred to the National Green Tribunal (number OA 185 of 2023); the petitions sought to protect the flood plains and high flood lines of the rivers of Maharashtra. Hence, my complaint pertains to Waldhuni river where reclamation and constructions are happening inside the river and on its flood plains,”he added.
Stalin has sent geo-tagged images of the river stretch along with his complaint, and further stated that since the waterbody has been reduced to a narrow concretized nala at certain spots, such as the Shiv Mandir in Ambernath, even the wild animals are unable to access the water from the river.
“The land next to the entrance to the Hindu crematorium on Loknagari road is a forest with teak trees and natural forests. This land is being dumped with debris at night and the slopes are being landfilled. A builder has put up a board proclaiming the commencement of a project. The state govt and the civic body must immediately take corrective measures to restore the river’s catchment areas and the dependent biodiversity,” said Stalin.
When TOI contacted that Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), at its Kalyan regional office, an SRO (sub-regional officer) asked for the copy of the email complaint regarding Waldhuni river, in order to check the issue.
TOI did email the complaint copy at the official site of MPCB, Kalyan. When the additional chief officer of Ambernath Municipal Council, Abhishek Paradkar, was contacted, he was unable to hear TOI’s query (due to poor mobile network); so a text message on the river issue was sent for his response.
