India, Aug. 27 -- The National Green Tribunal's western zone bench in Pune has ordered the BMC to be made a respondent in the ongoing case concerning alleged illegal dumping and destruction of mangroves along the Diva-Mumbra creek belt.

The August 21 order was passed on a plea filed by environmental group Vanashakti, which has alleged the destruction of around 27 hectares of mangroves and CRZ-I land. The direction came after the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) told the tribunal that the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) had informed it that the waste being dumped at the site originating in the BMC's jurisdiction. The TMC has maintained that it had not granted permission for such dumping.

The NGT, in its order, said, "The BMC ...