NAVI MUMBAI: A group of concerned citizens and environmentalists has urged CIDCO and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) to take immediate action to protect the hundreds of visitors to illegal temples on Belapur Hills, as well as residents living below, from the risk of landslides.
A joint delegation from the NatConnect Foundation and the Save Belapur Hills Forum met with CIDCO and NMMC officials, stressing that the upcoming monsoon season could lead to a disaster worse than the Irshalwadi landslide, which claimed over 80 lives and wiped out an entire village.
"The landslide risk at Belapur Hill is real, as the soil has become loose due to the uprooting of several trees to make way for temple structures, some of which can accommodate up to 2,000 people," said B N Kumar, director of NatConnect.
Last monsoon, CIDCO was forced to halt a demolition drive due to the risk of landslides caused by the unstable soil. In fact, retaining walls of some housing societies have already been damaged by previous landslides, Kumar noted.
NMMC Commissioner Dr. Kailash Shinde assured the delegation on Thursday that the corporation is fully aware of the dangers posed by the 30 illegal temples on Belapur Hill and will take appropriate action.
Local activists Kapil Kulkarni and Sushil Patil clarified that they are not against temples but believe they should be relocated to safer locations.
Dr. Shinde informed the delegation that he has directed the deputy municipal commissioner in charge of encroachments to examine the issue urgently, following directives from the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) and the state Urban Development Department.
Meanwhile, CIDCO raised a procedural point, stating that according to a Government Resolution (GR) based on Supreme Court and High Court orders, the decision on unauthorised religious structures falls under the purview of NMMC's designated committee. A senior CIDCO official confirmed that a letter has been sent to the NMMC Commissioner regarding this matter.
The GR categorizes religious structures in public spaces into three groups: to be regularised, to be demolished, and to be relocated.
Documents submitted by CIDCO and NMMC to MSHRC confirm that the Belapur Hill structures fall under Category B, meaning they must be demolished, NatConnect pointed out.
The MSHRC took suo motu cognizance of media reports highlighting the landslide risks and directed CIDCO and NMMC to take action through the proper legal process.
In response to CIDCO’s latest procedural concerns, a team of citizens met with Dr. Shinde again on Thursday, urging swift action to prevent a potential catastrophe for temple visitors and nearby residents.