India, July 22 -- The Bombay high court on Tuesday directed the Mumbai suburban district collector to remove encroachments from a natural pond in Charkop, Kandivali (West), observing that illegal structures and garbage dumped at the site were threatening the adjoining mangroves. Describing the condition as "shocking and terrible", the court said the pond must be restored before any beautification work begins.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Ravindra V Ghuge and Justice Gautam A Ankhad was hearing a petition filed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), seeking permission to remove encroachments and undertake conservation and beautification of the pond.

The BMC told the court that the pond falls within the 50-metre buffer zone o...