Due to two significant events that are anticipated to attract sizable crowds on September 22, the Navi Mumbai Traffic Department has sent out a notice regarding traffic diversions in Airoli. These include the Bhumipujan ceremony at Koli Bhavan and the funeral procession of Bhante Jyotiratna Mahathero. VIPs and dignitaries from all over Maharashtra will be present at the functions.

The Vipassana Center in Sector 6, Airoli, is where the Mahathero funeral procession will start. It will pass via Sector 5’s Khedekar Chowk before turning left at the Garam Masala Hotel to get toward Sector 9’s crematorium. Furthermore, there will be more traffic in the area as a result of the Bhumipujan event.

On September 22, from 3 PM to 8 PM, all traffic going towards Mumbai will be blocked from Rabale MIDC Police Station to Mulund Toll Plaza in order to maintain a smooth flow of traffic.

These are the alternative routes:

1. Vehicles going to Mumbai: From the Rabale MIDC Police Station, drivers can go directly to their destination by taking the Belapur-Thane Road, which passes through Kalwa.

2. Traffic from Thane-Kalwa heading towards Mumbai: Cars should turn right at Patni Circle and travel through Airoli Sectors 19 and 20 before continuing via Airoli. At the Ichapurti Ganesh Temple, turn right. At the MSEB office, turn right again. Head towards Mumbai by going past New Horizon School, turning left after DAV School, and then making one last left at Sector 10, by the water tank.

Note that ambulances, police cars, fire trucks, and other necessary service vehicles are not covered by this traffic control notice.

Kharghar hills dazzle with rare Karvi bloom.

The Blossom

Residents are celebrating the rare bloom of the Karvi flower, which has begun adorning Kharghar Hills. Known for its striking purple-bluish hue, the Karvi (Strobilanthes callosa) blooms once every eight years, with the last occurrence in 2016. This year, the hills are transformed by the flower’s breathtaking display, which is visible during September and October.

Found in places like Goregaon Film City and Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Kharghar remains a prime spot for viewing this phenomenon. The Karvi is a large shrub, growing up to 20 feet, and thrives in the Western Ghats’ moist climate. It supports various insects and disperses its seeds after blooming through masting.

Nature activist Jyoti Nadkarni emphasised the flower’s medicinal properties, which Adivasis often use for their anti-inflammatory benefits. She also highlighted the demand for the thick, dark Karvi Honey produced during this bloom.

While praising the Forest Department’s efforts in protecting the area, Nadkarni raised concerns over encroachments and habitat destruction. She urged the government to preserve these ecosystems for future generations, noting that other wildflower species like Ceropegia and sundews also need protection.

This rare bloom not only adds beauty but underlines the need for conservation in Kharghar’s rich biodiversity.

The Belapur Circle Officer filed a new First Information Report (FIR) on September 17, 2024, in response to the chopping of mangroves behind the T.S. Chanakya Maritime Institute. This action took place six months after the incident in March 2024, which alarmed individuals who care about the environment and are now calling for prompt action to save the surviving mangrove plants.

In March 2024, environmental activists Sunil Agarwal and Advocate Pradeep Patole used the Mangrove Suraksha App to file complaints against the removal of 150 mangroves in the area.

Sources were the first to raise the problem, and the activists quickly got a response from the app. Based on these concerns, a team of police conducted an area survey on April 29, 2024. Declaring the results of the site inspection, Advocate Patole said, “Since the sites are under the ownership rights of CIDCO, action should be taken through CIDCO first.”

This most recent FIR is the second one filed about the mangrove cutting in this area, and four months have gone since that inspection.

The Save Navi Mumbai Environment Group’s founder, Sunil Agarwal, stated, “More than 150 mangrove trees have been cut, and a FIR was filed against an unknown person, despite Mistry Construction Company being the primary beneficiary of these incidents.” Along with other activists, he urges CIDCO to take the required actions to protect the remaining mangroves and requests that the Revenue Department act immediately.