Collector told to check possibility of landslide

Expressing concern over the possibility of a landslide due to illegal excavation of hills and felling of trees near Vikhroli Parksite, the Bombay high court has asked collector of Mumbai Suburban district to personally visit the spot and find out whether or not work being carried out by the developer would cause landslides.

The court also said the collector must observe whether or not construction is being carried out within the limits. The court continued stay on excavation and directed the collector to submit a report within three weeks.

The collector is responsible for giving permission for excavation of the hill, while examining the same and construction of buildings is the responsibility of the BMC, said the state government, while clearing its stand in court. The court, irked by this reply, said, “If permission was given by you, then you must ensure whether excavation is going on as per permission or not.”

“At the time of granting permission had the collector personally visited the area and considered the huts that are located on the hill,” the court asked the state government. When the government’s lawyer failed to reply, the court directed the collector to visit the spot and file a report.

A division bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice S.M. Sonak was hearing a PIL filed by Janseva Vikas Samiti, an NGO.

According to the petition, there are around 5,000 huts in the vicinity of the hills, and if the developer continues with his work, there are chances of landslides in the rainy season. The petitioner has stated that, in 2015 it was learnt that the developer was trying to break the retaining wall of the hill opposite Kailash Complex at Parksite. The petitioner thereafter learnt that the developer was illegally trying to break the retaining wall as well as cutting trees on the slope of the hill.

The petitioner claimed he had prepared a presentation and submitted it to the authorities, but no one looked into the matter.