Deepak Apte, director, Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), a pan-India wildlife research organisation, said the security guards on Friday stopped BNHS to carry out its bird-monitoring survey in the area.

“BNHS is deeply concerned about developments in Uran, especially Panje wetland. All these areas fall under the special economic zone (SEZ). Any destruction will compromise air safety of Navi Mumbai International Airport,” he said.

“Banning research, photography and birding is a forerunner to prevent images of illegal landfilling that is soon to happen at Uran,” said Aishwarya Sridhar, environmentalist.
Neenu Somraj, member secretary, Bombay high court-appointed state mangroves committee, said, “We have not received any complaint so far about this issue. However, the Raigad district administration has been given directions to ensure that reclamation activities are stopped at all wetlands.”

Another member Stalin D said, “Cidco has restricted human access to officially allow private companies to completely reclaim and destroy these wetlands. Cidco needs to vacate these lands immediately and hand it over to the environment and forest department.”

Sunjoy Monga, naturalist writer and ornithologist, said, “It is a way to strangulate the last of our surviving wetland wonders by ensuring that those visiting them are denied entry. The forest department should take control over these areas at the earliest.”
Security guards at Uran wetlands irk activists, fisherfolk - https://m.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/security-guards-at-uran-wetlands-irk-activists-fisherfolk/story-B889iUy5RPCaqesXCzdktI.html