The tanker operators have, in fact, taken undue advantage of the recent public agitation in Bhayander and virtually attacked the fragile natural reserves and wells including those on the Thane collector's land at Uttan and Dongri with renewed vigour.

On a writ petition filed by the Nagri Hakk Sangharsh Samiti (NHSS), acting Chief Justice Ashok Agarwal and Justice A P Shah passed an interim order dated January 11, 1999, directing collectors and municipal authorities of Thane and Mumbai and also civic authorities of Mira-Bhayandar to ensure that no drawing of ground water for commercial purposes from Uttan and Dongri villages is continued.

The court also banned all quarrying and earth excavation activities from the area to maintain the ecological balance anddirected the respondents to give an inspection to petitioners of licences and permissions granted for drawing of ground water for commercial purposes in the last five years.

Taking cognisance of a geological survey report prepared by Senior Geologist of the Ground Water Survey and Development Agency, Thane, highlighting the immense ecological imbalance caused in Uttan and Dongri villages due to extensive tapping of ground water, the order said the only option left to prevent further degradation of the area was to stop such happenings.

``We have filed several complaints and even submitted memorandums to the collector and police authorities drawing their attention to the violation of the HC order, but no action has been taken so far,'' President of the NHSS, James Collaso, said.

In a letter sent to the senior inspector of Bhayandar police station on Saturday, the NHSS mentioned the names of tanker operators Milan Patil, Terry Mendonca, Yerman Borgis and others who have violated the order and continue tocarry on their activities unchecked. The NHSS has also submitted a list of registration numbers of tankers: MH 04 P 8044, MH 04 P 3494, MH 04 P 4434, MH 04 H 5637, MH 04 C 6627, MH 04 P 4511, MH 04 D 3558, MTT 8004, MH 04 P 5515, MHT 2726, MCT 1616 and MCG 3494. However, these tankers, apart from hundreds of others, continue to draw thousands of litres of water every day.

Asked how such a large body of water could be called ground water, James explained the water had collected in the area over the years, as the tanker operators had indulged in large-scale earth excavation. ``As per the senior geologist's report, ground water can be tapped at around 30 feet in the Uttan and Dongri areas. But at many places, earth has been excavated to the depth of over 100 feet and the craters so formed were filled with water.

Even rain water now gets retained, giving one an impression that the lake is just a collection of rain water,'' James explained.

``Terry Mendonca and his brother, Gilbert, former president of MBMCtogether control 80 per cent of tanker trade,'' added Manvel Tuscano, NHSS activist. ``The water thus drawn is sold to residents of Mira-Bhayander for prices ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 2,000 per tanker,'' said Milan Mhatre, a former councillor.