India, Aug. 25 -- The National Green Tribunal has slammed the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) for dumping garbage into the mangroves in Balkum area next to Vasai creek and destroying the area's ecosystem. On August 21, the NGT directed the civic body to clear out the waste.

The NGT's order comes after the tribunal took suo motu cognisance of the case following news reports and several complaints against the TMC for dumping municipal waste in eco-sensitive zones.

Based on the complaints, the tribunal had ordered the Maharashtra pollution control board (MPCB) to conduct a survey of the area. On August 11, the survey confirmed that the civic body had indeed been dumping waste into the mangroves.

The MPCB also directed the TMC to clear t...