It’s time to take environmental degradation seriously

Recently, thousands of dead fish were found floating in the Panje-Dongri wetland in Raigad district. Environmentalists claim that this is the work of anti-social elements who aim to destroy the biodiversity of the wetland and promote land encroachment. An environmentalist had written a letter to several officials, raising the alarm bells.

According to the green activist, it seems that some kind of harmful chemical has been used in it. People can eat these fish, which can cause harm to health. People need to be stopped from doing this. His email requested that a team be sent to the spot immediately to investigate the matter.

The fish species found floating include boi, also known as Indian white mullet; jitaada, also known as Asian seabass; crabs; tilapia; prawns; etc. Our report highlights how environmentalists have highlighted that the Panj has been under attack for many years, where tidal waters are blocked intermittently by miscreants, resulting in a decline in the population of migratory birds.

We want these complaints to be investigated and taken seriously. Often, emails are not answered and complaints are ignored. They are dismissed as figments of imagination or trivial. Climate change/environment is seen as a very minor or less serious issue.

Sometimes complaints are addressed, but it is delayed so long that action is ineffective, or the problem has persisted for so long that it has taken deep roots and is difficult to eliminate.

This is especially true in the case of encroachment, whether of a wetland or a piece of public road, footpath or any kind of amenity. When encroachment is done carelessly or deliberately, it always becomes very difficult to remove it, depriving people of their rightful place or infrastructure.