To ensure cases of mangrove destruction don’t get lost in dispute over jurisdiction, all state government departments have been given the power to investigate such incidents. On Wednesday, Konkan commissioner Jagdish Patil, who heads the mangrove destruction grievance redress committee, said the collector’s office, revenue, forest (mangrove cell), civic officials and police will file individual reports for every mangrove destruction case, irrespective of the jurisdiction of the land. Since 2012, there have been more than 327 cases of mangrove destruction on private land in Mumbai and more than 500 across the state. While 63 incidents have been reported on forest land, 82 have been on private land between January and October. “Even though the forest department still doesn’t have powers over destruction on private land, investigation reports will assist other departments.

Source: Hindustan Times November 23, 2017 16:52 UTC