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A stretch of Dadar beach that had been used as a construction storage site for over three months was cleared by Wednesday afternoon following mid-day reports highlighting the issue.

Residents and contractor staff confirmed that the beach was cleared around 4 pm, with steel bars, reinforcement rods, pipes, welding gas cylinders, metal benders, and noisy cutting machines removed from the site. Residents expressed relief that the public space is accessible again.

A stretch of Dadar beach used as a construction storage site, with steel bars, pipes and noisy machinery dumped for months. File pic/Ashish Raje

The action followed reports published in this newspaper earlier this week. A follow-up report also highlighted concerns raised by environmentalists over alleged violations in the CRZ-1B (intertidal coastal regulation zone) area.

What was found on the beach

>>Steel bars and reinforcement rods
>>Pipes and noisy machinery
>>Welding gas cylinders
>>Metal benders and cutters

Construction materials, including reinforcement rods and gas cylinders, occupy beach in a CRZ-1B area. Pic/Ashish Raje

Timeline

Over 3 months: Beach used as a construction storage site
Tuesday: First report highlights misuse
Wednesday: Follow-up raises CRZ violation concerns
Wednesday: Materials cleared by afternoon

Dadar beach stretch cleared of all construction materials on Wednesday following reports highlighting the misuse. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Residents raise questions on accountability

While welcoming clearance, residents questioned how the situation was allowed to continue for months without intervention.

Rahul Nadkarni, a Dadar resident
‘Someone from BMC has to oversee what contractors are doing. Regular site visits must be part of that process. What repercussions do contractors or officials face? When would barricades be reinstated to prevent vehicles from accessing the beach?’

Vaibhav Rege, secretary of Shivaji Park ALM,
‘Open spaces must be used appropriately. For five to six months, construction materials were dumped here. After residents intervened and wrote to the authorities, the issue was highlighted, and action was taken. Our message is that citizens must take initiative to protect public spaces’

Nishant Gala, a Dadar resident
‘Thanks to the clearance, a space meant for the public has been restored. Only after residents raised their voices and the media highlighted the issue was action taken. Many mishaps have now been avoided’

Supriya Junnarkar, a Shivaji Park resident,
‘It is a respite for those who regularly visit the beach that the construction materials have finally been removed after nearly four to five months’