NAVI MUMBAI: Taking suo moto note of media reports on the green groups agitation to save Belapur Hill from encroachments, the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission has summoned a host of top officials including the state chief secretary to appear and explain the issue on Thursday.
Recently, the Belapur citizens and activists had formed a human chain to silently protest the alarming encroachments on Belapur Hill that threaten to destroy it thus.
The human rights commission’s summons is because of the failure of the authorities for their failure to take necessary action against several unauthorised constructions on the hill.
The Commission – comprising Chairperson Justice K K Tated and member M A Sayeed – has directed the Principal Secretary – revenue and Forest department, Managing Director – Cidco, Commissioner – Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and the Collector -Thane, apart from the Chief Secretary.
The Commission said it will decide on the matter in accordance with the law if the officials named fail to appear before it.
The human rights body noted from the media reports that several unauthorised constructions and the felling of several trees and that the citizen groups formed a human chain.
The commission noted NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar’s media statement that given the number of encroachments on the hill, there are chances of landslides. The rights body gave the option of filing an affidavit on the issue to NatConnect Foundation.
Kumar said he will file the details in consultation with his lawyers.
The commission also noted from the report that Cidco joint managing director said the matter is not with his organisation, while NMMC Commissioner Kailas Shinde said he was not aware of the matter. The Forest department said the land was transferred to Cidco.
The commission observed that the authorities are shifting their responsibilities on each other and hence asked the Chief Secretary to decide as to which authority is supposed to act and file an affidavit accordingly.
It also called for taking immediate steps to remove the unauthorised constructions so that the human rights of the residents can be protected.
The authorities were also asked to file details such as the total area of the Belapur Hill, the fact-finding inquiry into the unauthorised constructions and action taken against them, the permissions granted for any construction, apart from the number of cases in which action has been taken.
Kulkarni said the issue has been hanging fire for the past well over nine years when Kalpataru Cooperative Housing Society reported it to the CIDCO when the illegal temple.
Meanwhile, on a complaint filed by NetConnect Foundation, the Chief Minister directed the Principal Secretary – Urban Development to look into the land grab racket which started with two to three temples at the bottom of the hill. The construction has now spread to the slope and even top of the hill.
“We have nothing against any places of worship but these could be built with official clearances and on legally allotted plots,” Kumar said.
