The Maharashtra state environment department has directed CIDCO to take action against Bhumiraj Builders for violating environmental norms on Parsik Hill. Despite being called for a hearing by the State Human Rights Commission, CIDCO failed to appear. The state environment department has given CIDCO seven days to act against the builder, who has been accused of cutting slopes on the hill in violation of the leave and license agreement. This is not the first time CIDCO has faced environmental issues.
The state environment department of Maharashtra has directed CIDCO to take action against Bhumiraj Builders for violating environmental norms in connection with the Parsik Hill slope cutting issue. The department filed an affidavit last week stating that a joint inspection found that Bhumiraj Builders had cut a PCC pathway with lawn plantation, constructed a 50-meter gibbon wall, a concrete platform, and erected a hoarding in violation of the leave and license agreement with CIDCO.
CIDCO has skipped its date with the State Human Rights Commission (HRC) in the case despite being called in for a hearing. The HR had earlier "strongly deprecated" the lethargy and apathy on the part of the CIDCO managing director. On May 3, the state environment department directed CIDCO to take action against the builder within seven days. Meanwhile, the hoarding of the builder has been removed after the HRC began hearing.
Bhumiraj Builders have been accused of violating environmental norms by cutting slopes on Parsik Hill under the guise of plantation and beautification. The joint inspection carried out by CIDCO, MPCB, NMMC, Forest Department, and police officials found the builder guilty of several violations. The builder has denied any wrongdoing and has been allowed to file an affidavit explaining its stand on the issue.
CIDCO, short for City and Industrial Development Corporation, has been facing various environmental issues over the years. One such instance was in 2019, where CIDCO was accused of illegally chopping down more than 1,000 mangrove trees on a plot allotted to it in the Uran wetlands. In another incident, in 2020, CIDCO was issued a show-cause notice by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for violating environmental norms while constructing a residential project in Taloja. In the same year, MPCB also issued a notice to CIDCO for violating environmental rules while constructing the Navi Mumbai International Airport.
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