Mid-day Impact: Environmentalists complained about dangers of the damage to Parsik Hill

As per a CIDCO affidavit, builder violated agreement by “illegally” constructing a pathway and concrete platform for advertisement hoarding

Vindicating environmentalists' complaints, city planner CIDCO has served notice to a realty developer, for violating the conditions for maintenance of and plantation on the Parsik Hill slope and using the area for advertising, the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (HRC) has been told.

The environmental groups had complained that the so-called plantation, by destroying the existing greenery and digging along the slope, endangered the lives of the people living on top of Parsik Hill.

Responding to the Commission's summons, a CIDCO affidavit, signed by Town Service Manager Deepak K Jogi, detailed the leave and license arrangement with the private developer and said that a joint inspection by the planning agency and other government bodies found violations by the developer.

CIDCO in its affidavit, has said it leased over 26,800 sq metres of the hill slope to the builder at an annual fee of Rs 100. File pic/Satej Shinde

Jogi's affidavit mentioned that the builder violated the agreement by "illegally" constructing a PCC pathway, a concrete platform of 4mX4m for erecting an advertisement hoarding without permission. CIDCO, therefore, served notice to the builder on January 5 asking him to remove all the constructions within 15 days or face legal action.

According to NatConnect Foundation, the HRC, headed by two justices as members, asked the CIDCO lawyer to file an additional affidavit detailing the action taken. According to the NGO, the agreement shows that CIDCO in its affidavit, has leased over 26,800 sq metres of the hill slope to the builder at an annual fee of Rs 100.

Also Read: Navi Mumbai: Concrete plant at quarry raises the hackles of environmentalists

‘Details missed'

Earlier, speaking on behalf of NatConnect Foundation and Parsik Greens, activist Vishnu Joshi pointed to the HRC that the so-called inspection report missed out details of violations on the slope as listed by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) Belapur Ward Officer Dr Mitali Sancheti. The civic officer inspected the site following an RTI application filed by NatConnect director B N Kumar seeking details of the nature of the work on the slope.

NatConnect has also complained to the Chief Minister who in turn asked the Forest department to look into the issue. In response to another RTI application, the State Environment Department has confirmed that it has not given any clearance for digging the hill slope, Kumar said.

Taking cognisance of media reports with all these aspects, the HRC served notices to CIDCO, NMMC, the police commissioner, the Environment and Forest Departments. The police conducted an investigation and submitted a report.

Parsik Hill Residents Association president Jayant Thakur told the HRC that CIDCO allotted 200 plots on the Hill and over 100 of which are now occupied. He asked, "Where will we go if Joshimath type landslides occur with the kind of slope cutting that we have seen?"

‘Under CIDCO's nose'

The activists thanked the HRC for taking note of the genuine concerns and pointed that the violations took place in broad daylight, that too right under CIDCO's nose. The planner's headquarters is a stone's throw from the Parsik Hill slope. Moreover, the slope is adjacent to a plot where the same builder has a construction going on, the CIDCO affidavit admitted. The HRC fixed the next hearing for February 16.