Navi Mumbai: Even as climate change continues to impact the city, over a hundred fully grown trees have been felled on Parsik Hills near the CIDCO headquarters, environmentalists have alleged, warning of potential landslides along the Sion-Panvel highway.
Citing a recent Supreme Court observation that cutting trees is worse than taking human lives, the NatConnect Foundation has called for strict action against those responsible for the deforestation. The Supreme Court has imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh for each illegally cut tree, NatConnect director B.N. Kumar stated in a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
Frustrated with CIDCO’s continued neglect of environmental concerns, NatConnect has announced plans to consult legal experts to take the matter to the National Green Tribunal. “This reckless destruction is bound to trigger landslides during the monsoon, endangering both lives and property,” the environmental NGO warned.
Kapil Kulkarni of the Save Belapur Hills forum echoed similar concerns, stating that rampant tree-cutting on hillsides has become routine, with authorities turning a blind eye. He pointed out that deforestation on Belapur Hill has already caused two recent landslides due to soil loosening, yet CIDCO has failed to take action.
“It’s high time CIDCO realized that climate change is not science fiction,” he said.
“On one hand, the government preaches the importance of tree plantation and conservation, while on the other, city planners continue to ignore environmental protection,” Kumar added.
“It takes a decade or more for trees to mature, yet they are wiped out in mere hours,” he lamented.
The large-scale felling follows the ongoing destruction of mangroves and wetlands under CIDCO’s jurisdiction, reflecting what activist Jyoti Nadkarni of Kharghar Hills and Wetlands described as the authority’s “negative attitude towards the environment.”
NatConnect also recalled that, in an earlier case of tree destruction, the Forest Department confirmed to the Human Rights Commission that Parsik Hills fall under CIDCO’s jurisdiction.
Kumar further noted that Navi Mumbai has been experiencing poor air quality for months, forcing residents to breathe toxic air. “At a time when the city desperately needs more green cover, this short-sighted urban planning disregards environmental health,” he said.
