Navi Mumbai: The decision to reintegrate 14 villages along the Shil-Taloja route into the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has sparked strong opposition from Airoli MLA and Forest Minister Ganesh Naik. Citing a massive financial burden of Rs 6,000 crore on NMMC, Naik has written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to overturn the move.
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Naik had strongly opposed the move. Now, he has formally written to the Chief Minister, reiterating his objections. The decision has also fueled political rivalry between the Naik and Shinde factions in the Thane district.
Naik highlighted that these villages were previously removed from NMMC jurisdiction due to concerns over higher property taxes. However, their exclusion led to years of inadequate infrastructure and civic issues. Responding to increasing demands from villagers, the government recently approved their reintegration.
According to a report by former NMMC Commissioner Abhijit Bangar, the estimated cost of developing these villages stands at Rs 6,000 crore. Naik argues that existing Navi Mumbai residents should not be forced to bear this financial responsibility.
The villages included in NMMC are Dahisar, Mokashi, Walivali, Pimpri, Nighu, Navali, Vaklan, Yamali, Narivali, Vele, Nagaon, Bhandali, Uttarshiv, and Goteghar.
These villages were originally under NMMC but were excluded in 2007 following agitation by local residents. However, this decision resulted in worsening road conditions, water supply issues, and inadequate street lighting. Villagers have since been demanding their reintegration to ensure access to essential services.
Additionally, geographical challenges pose an obstacle to connectivity, as these villages are separated from Navi Mumbai by the Parsik Hill range. To improve access, authorities may need to consider constructing a tunnel in the future.