PORTMORE Mayor George Lee is worried that continued destruction of the mangroves at Dawkins Pond could result in heavy flooding in sections of the municipality and has appealed to residents to stop the destructive practice.

At the same time, Mayor Lee and his deputy, Councillor Leon Thomas, told reporters and editors at yesterday’s weekly Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange that rangers have been assigned to the area to stop the activity.

“We have placed rangers in Portmore in an effort to reduce the mangroves being destroyed. We have also started replanting mangroves along the shoreline to help prevent disasters,” Thomas said.

Mayor Lee said sea surges are common in the area, and the mangroves protect the coastline from deterioration and the land from experiencing massive flooding. Lee also added that a number of developments have been taking place in Dawkins Pond that have reduced the size of the area, raising concern as the community and surrounding areas are in increased danger.

“I am very concerned about the inevitable environmental disaster if residents continue to destroy the mangroves,” Lee said. “They need to understand that this will cause massive flooding, especially since we’re in the hurricane season.”

Deputy Mayor Thomas said the activities in Dawkins Pond have also affected the quality of the water in the area.

“Some residents have been cutting down the mangroves and burning them to make charcoal. This has greatly affected the water quality as it now has a very dark appearance,” said Thomas.

He said the council has met with the Urban Development Corporation with the hope of putting an end to the problem.