BMC to map mangroves

Mangroves, which work as buffer zones between the city and sea, will be mapped using GIS and GPS technology, a senior civic official said.

The BMC has already floated tenders inviting private players to provide such technology for its tree census, carried out after every five years.

Tenders have also been sought for ascertaining number of trees in the metropolis excluding area covered by mangroves (and also Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Sanjay Gandhi National Park and Aarey Colony).

"The mangroves' stretch will be identified separately," Additional Municipal Commissioner Aseem Gupta yesterday said, adding that the civic body has been allotted Rs 6 crore for tree census and mangroves mapping.

"As per Tree Act, mangroves are considered as 'tree'. But it cannot be counted numerically. Hence, we will map it separately using the technology to establish exact area it is spread over," Gupta added.

However, city-based environmentalists feel that spending huge amount for mangroves mapping is waste of tax payers' money.

They said it will lead to duplication as the Maharashtra government made similar efforts twice in 2006 and 2009 following directives from Bombay High Court in this connection.

"I see it as a waste of money. It will result in duplication only," Rishi Aggarwal, the joint secretary of Mangrove Society of India, Maharashtra chapter said.

Aggarwal slammed BMC and the state government for allegedly not doing their bit to conserve mangroves.

"It is only the activists who are voicing concerns over destruction of mangroves. Nobody is bothered about creating awareness about mangroves and thereby, conserve it," Aggarwal rued.