Navi Mumbai: The Rs 2,100 crore Kharghar-Turbhe Link Road, which passes through the ecologically sensitive Pandavkada Hills, is being developed without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study, as revealed by information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, claims activist BN Kumar.
NatConnect Foundation sought details from the State Environment and Climate Change Department regarding the EIA for the project, given its construction through the eco-sensitive Pandavkada Hills, part of the larger Kharghar hill range. However, the official response, published on the RTI Maharashtra website, stated: "As per available records of MCZMA, the information sought by you is not available with this office."
NatConnect’s director, B.N. Kumar, criticized this standard response, suggesting it was simply a refusal to provide the requested information. Kumar also expressed concern over the rushed manner in which CIDCO is pushing forward with the road and tunnel project, calling it a blatant disregard for environmental concerns.
Environmentalist Jyoti Nadkarni, convenor of the Kharghar Hills and Wetlands Forum, pointed out that the forest department had previously planned to develop the Pandavkada Falls area as an eco-tourism site. The new road project, she said, has seemingly derailed those plans.
A survey by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) for a proposed Nature Park along the Belapur-Kharghar hill stretch identified a rich biodiversity, including 239 plant species, 295 insect species, 12 fish species, 28 reptile species, and 12 mammal species, along with sightings of golden jackals and even a leopard.
Nadkarni emphasized the importance of preserving the Nature Park, lamenting CIDCO’s approach, which she believes is prioritizing development at the cost of the area's biodiversity.
The road project itself includes a 1.8-km twin tunnel through Kharghar hill and a 3.4-km elevated viaduct. It will connect Turbhe to Kharghar, passing along the Sion-Panvel highway and culminating near the Central Park junction in Kharghar.
Kumar reiterated that while development aimed at alleviating traffic congestion is important, it should not come at the cost of the environment. "It's essential to balance development with the conservation of biodiversity," he argued.
This is not the first time CIDCO has been accused of harming the hills. Kumar recalled a previous incident where CIDCO destroyed a hillock in the Kharghar Golf Park area, despite opposition from local Adivasi communities who rely on the area's social forestry.
Highlighting the importance of water resources in the region, Kumar pointed out that the area receives substantial rainfall, which could be harnessed through ponds for supplying water to Kharghar. He expressed concern that CIDCO has ignored this possibility, leaving residents dependent on water tankers due to the lack of a reliable water supply.
Nadkarni echoed these concerns, calling for the preservation of the hills and the implementation of a rainwater harvesting project to help address the region's water needs.
