Member of Parliament Maneka Gandhi has written to Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan alleging that a company has begun illegal construction near Karnala bird sanctuary in Panvel.

In the letter, Gandhi said a private company had sought permission to set up a factory within 10 kilometres of the sanctuary, which houses 147 species of Indian birds and 37 migratory bird species, including some endangered species. She said the company intended to dispose its effluent into the sea.