Konkan Divisional Commissioner S S Sandhu said all illegal activity and reclaims are strictly monitored. “The tehsildar and the collector monitor offences, the collector then takes action against the offenders, a police case is lodged and an inquiry is conducted. Reports are sent to the High Court every month.”

Debi Goenka of BEAG said, “The collector has told us that offences have been registered against erring outfits. We’d like to know what action has been taken as dumping continues incessantly.”

Mangrove expert Vivek Kulkarni explained how illegal dumping takes place: “Organised builders in urban areas are conscious of the HC ruling but smaller local builders in these mangrove areas don’t care. Lobbying is very strong here. The need of the hour is to hand these areas to the forest department and set up a monitoring agency.”