Residents, activists form human chain over encroachments on Belapur Hill
According to local residents, the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), however, the ownership of the hill has been transferred from the forest department to CIDCO.
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According to local residents, the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), however, the ownership of the hill has been transferred from the forest department to CIDCO. (File Photo)Residents and environment activists of Navi Mumbai formed a silent human chain on Sunday to protest the authorities’ negligence over encroachments on Belapur Hill. Citizens complained that over the years, several illegal constructions have come up on the hill, leading to the felling of a number of trees.
According to local residents, the area falls under the jurisdiction of the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), however, the ownership of the hill has been transferred from the forest department to CIDCO.
According Kapil Kulkarni, a resident of CBD Belapur, data collected through RTI showed that 11 plots have been allotted to various religious institutions, including two spiritual centres on the hill. There are around 40 such constructions on the Parsik Hill, of which around 20 are on the Belapur Hill side towards the east, he said.
Locals say that CIDCO has only issued notices to all the illegal constructions but has not taken action against them so far.
“Given the number of encroachments on the hill, there are chances of a landslide,” NatConnect Foundation director BN Kumar said.
CIDCO Joint Managing Director Dilip Dhole said, “The matter is not with the CIDCO and the municipal corporation is to look into this matter.” NMMC commissioner Kailash Shinde said that he was not aware of the matter.
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