Navi Mumbai: Fresh cutting of Parsik Hill with JCB shocks nature lovers

NAVI MUMBAI: An ongoing cutting of Parsik Hill range, between Nerul and Belapur along the busy Sion-Panvel highway, by using a JCB machine has highly disturbed the local residents and activists who have now written to the authorities about it.
"When you are driving from Nerul LP junction towards Belapur, the JCB can be seen slicing into the hill top, and also uprooting green trees near the Uran Phata area. This is highly shocking since we had earlier protested about the cutting of the hill at another site which is directly underneath our houses on Parsik Hill,'' said a Parsik Hill Residents Association member and activist, Vishnu Joshi.
In an urgent letter written to the state environment department, environmentalist B N Kumar of NatConnect Foundation stated, "Any further damage to this hill can cause a landslide which will land over the Sion-Panvel road, causing accidents. Why is this JCB destroying trees on Parsik Hill? Any kind of non-mineral mining requires prior Environmental Clearance and we have not come across any EC sanctioned at the SEIAA (statelevel environment impact assessment authority) meetings. In fact, a series of applications for quarrying at the Parsik Hill have been sent back by the SEIAA.''
Kumar added that during the earlier complaint about the hill cutting towards Belapur, the state CMO had directed the environment and forest department to look into the issue.
"However, we have not heard anything further since the CMO's directive, while the Thane officials are not replying to our green concerns. Such a situation forces nature lovers to then seek legal option by moving court, which is a long and costly process,'' said Kumar.
Member of the Bombay high court appointed wetlands and mangroves protection committees, D Stalin, said, "It appears that some groups are hellbent on destroying the precious Parsik Hill range. Earlier this year, I had also complained to the state authorities about a JCB illegally quarrying the hill towards the Shilphata area. However, there was no proactive response from the state. The latest hill cutting taking place between Nerul and Belapur is a serious issue, and the local officials must at least inquire as to how this is occurring.''
Meanwhile, the locals said that they will be approaching the district collectorate if this activity is not stalled.