Thane Municipal Corporation razes 10 illegal turf clubs in Yeoor ecologically sensitive zone, police book 10 persons | Mumbai News – The Times of India

THANE: Acting on Bombay high court orders, Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) demolished 10 illegal turf clubs in Yeoor, a notified ecologically sensitive zone, and booked 10 persons under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act. Police said they have registered a case against Rasik Boricha, Siddharth Shah and eight others on a complaint by a TMC official.For years, Yeoor has been plagued by unauthorised constructions — bungalows, farmhouses, roadside eateries, and, more recently, artificial turf clubs for cricket and football. Nearly a dozen turfs mushroomed during the Covid pandemic, disturbing Yeoor’s ecosystem with floodlights, loudspeakers, and late-night parties, said Rohit Joshi, president of Yeoor Environmental Society. Repeated complaints highlighted the impact on wildlife. Nocturnal animals such as leopards, wild boars, foxes, rabbits, owls, and nightjars faced habitat disturbance due to blinding lights and noise. A recent wildlife census revealed a 50% decline in Yeoor’s fauna compared to last year, with no leopards recorded — a sign of critical ecological imbalance, Joshi added.The Yeoor Environmental Society filed a PIL in HC in 2023. Under legal pressure, TMC finally acted — removing turf surfaces, disconnecting utilities, and filing criminal cases against the 10 operators.“This legal battle has finally borne fruit. Yeoor’s wildlife has been freed from blinding lights and relentless noise, and nature lovers can breathe a sigh of relief. But the delay in action reflects systemic negligence,” said Joshi. He added that they will now fight against other illegal structures in the notified ecologically sensitive zone.