Belapur Hills Faces Landslide Threat Due to Illegal Temples, Activists Warn NMMC, CIDCO
Navi Mumbai: As the monsoon season approaches, environmental activists have raised alarm over the growing risk of landslides on Belapur Hills due to the construction of illegal temples. A delegation of activists has called on both the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) to urgently address the situation, which they fear could lead to a disaster similar to the Irshalwadi landslide tragedy.
The environmental groups, including NatConnect Foundation and the Save Belapur Hills Forum, have highlighted the dangers posed by the unauthorized temples built on the slopes of Belapur Hills. The activists warned that the hills’ soil has become increasingly unstable, with large-scale tree felling for temple construction leaving the land vulnerable to erosion and landslides. NatConnect Foundation’s director, B N Kumar, emphasized that the soil has turned loose due to the destruction of trees, exacerbating the landslide threat. “The real danger is that these illegal temples, some of which accommodate up to 2,000 people, are situated on unstable hill slopes. The authorities must address this issue before a tragedy occurs,” said Kumar.
Local activists, including Kapil Kulkarni and Sushil Patil, expressed that they have no objections to the existence of temples, but believe they should be located in safer areas, away from the hillsides. They stressed that the current situation poses significant risks to both the structures and the people who visit them. The issue of illegal temples was previously raised when CIDCO initiated a demolition drive during the last monsoon. However, the operation had to be halted due to the risk of landslides caused by the loosened soil. “In fact, the retaining walls of some housing societies in the area had already been damaged by landslides,” said Kumar.
The NMMC commissioner has assured the delegation that the issue is being closely monitored. “The NMMC is aware of the situation regarding the 30 illegal temples on Belapur Hill and will take appropriate action,” the commissioner said, directing the deputy municipal commissioner in charge of encroachments to look into the matter, in line with directives from the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) and the state urban development department. CIDCO, meanwhile, raised a technical issue, stating that according to the Government Resolution (GR) following orders from the Supreme Court and High Court, the NMMC-level committee must decide on actions regarding unauthorized religious structures. CIDCO has also written to the NMMC Commissioner regarding this matter.
Despite CIDCO’s technical point, activists stress that immediate action is needed to prevent the loss of life and property. Kumar added, “CIDCO and NMMC have already admitted to the MSHRC that these structures on Belapur Hill fall under Category B and should be demolished.” The authorities are under increasing pressure to take swift and decisive action to protect both the environment and the people living in the area. As the monsoon season approaches, the urgency of the matter becomes even more apparent.
