As Navi Mumbai gears up for the upcoming municipal elections, the growing public outrage over the worsening condition of Parsik Hill and surrounding infrastructure has brought local governance under sharp scrutiny. Citizens from multiple neighbourhoods have come forward, criticising the civic body for turning a blind eye to what they call the “dying green lung” of the city.
Located between Belapur and Mumbra, Parsik Hill has long served as a vital ecological zone and recreational space for residents. But today, the hill stands scarred by unchecked quarrying, illegal encroachments, uncollected waste, and rapidly disappearing green cover. Citizens and environmental groups say the lack of consistent maintenance, combined with unregulated dumping and unscientific development, is leading to its steady destruction. Locals point out that despite several appeals, the authorities have failed to implement long-term solutions to restore and protect the hill’s environment. Dumping of garbage along the hill’s lower slopes, poor waste segregation, broken roads, and a lack of pedestrian safety measures have become persistent issues, especially in nodes such as Nerul, CBD Belapur, and Kalwa.
According to environmental experts, Parsik Hill plays a critical role in regulating the local microclimate, supporting biodiversity, and offering much-needed tree cover in a rapidly urbanising region. “This is not just about scenic value or a walking spot — it’s about the ecological stability of Navi Mumbai,” said a city-based environmental planner. With the civic elections around the corner, many residents now feel that environmental preservation and basic urban upkeep must become non-negotiable political issues. Various housing societies and citizen forums have started campaigns and public meetings to voice their concerns, demanding immediate action from candidates and the city’s administrative machinery.
Several citizens allege that development promises are often made before elections, but are quickly forgotten after. “We pay taxes, we follow rules — and yet we can’t get clean public spaces, well-maintained hills, or proper garbage systems,” said a resident of Sanpada. Meanwhile, urban planners have warned that without a comprehensive urban ecology plan, neglecting natural assets like Parsik Hill could have long-term consequences, including flooding, air quality deterioration, and loss of natural habitats. While authorities maintain that certain clean-up drives and awareness campaigns have been conducted in the past, citizens say these were sporadic and lacked any sustained effort or community consultation.
As political parties prepare their manifestos and outreach programmes, citizen groups are intensifying their demand for a dedicated policy on green spaces, along with robust solid waste management and protection of ecological zones like Parsik Hill. Whether the local administration will respond with urgency or offer only lip service remains to be seen. But one thing is clear — Navi Mumbai’s green future is becoming a major ballot-box issue.
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