Sunita Somvanshi
Seven months after protesting the felling of mangroves at Turzen Point in Chargut, activists returned to find the devastation worse. “This is at the end of the road where the mangroves were so dense that you could not even see the water. And now just see this. They are all gone and the water has started coming in.”
The mangroves that once stood between the land and the sea are gone. Dead trees line the road. Construction debris litters what remains of the protected area — an illegal intrusion that accelerates the damage.
The Situation
Turzen Point, Chargut — a mangrove area that has been under threat for months. Activists first protested seven months ago against the felling of thousands of trees. Since then, the deforestation has continued. Trees have been cut all along the road, with construction junk and debris dumped in the mangrove area.
The footage from the Instagram reel shows a landscape unrecognizable from the dense mangrove forest that once stood there. The end of the road literally merged into the mangroves. Now, that identity is erased.
BNC’s Response
In response to the latest UN report on climate and biodiversity, BNC is conducting a fresh climate risk assessment. The organization is calling for all work on projects involving further cutting of mangroves to be stopped until the assessment is completed.
What You Can Do
– Sign the petition demanding a halt to mangrove-cutting projects
– Email decision-makers demanding the assessment be completed before any further clearance
– Share the story — awareness is the first line of defense
Mangroves are coastal shields. They protect against storm surges, support marine life, and sequester carbon at rates far exceeding terrestrial forests. Their loss at Turzen Point isn’t just local — it’s a symptom of a broader pattern.
*Source: Instagram reel Ddtj5gNMnuy, Turzen Point Chargut. Activist footage.*
