The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has cracked the whip on state authorities following shocking reports of illegal quarrying right behind Tata Cancer Hospital in Kharghar. Taking suo motu notice of media coverage, the NGT has issued notices to multiple state agencies, demanding urgent responses.
“The matter raises substantial environmental issues and warrants immediate judicial attention,” noted the NGT principal bench comprising Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Dr. A. Senthil Vel, and Dr. Afroz Ahmad.
The case has been officially transferred to the Western Zonal Bench in Pune, with the next hearing scheduled for September 17.
This green alarm was triggered by a Right to Information (RTI) response accessed by NatConnect Foundation, revealing that the Raigad district administration had issued no permissions for quarrying near the hospital.
“Dust and vibrations from quarrying are life-threatening for cancer patients and destroy sensitive medical equipment,” said B N Kumar, Director, NatConnect Foundation.
“We are grateful the NGT has taken this up.”
Despite monsoon restrictions, blasting and stone crushing activities continue in full swing, raising serious alarms about the Kharghar-Turbhe tunnel project, which lies in close proximity.
“Experts have warned that continuous quarrying has destabilized hill soil, posing risks of landslides,” the NGT observed.
Residents and environmental activists are furious over the blatant government inaction.
Jyoti Nadkarni, Convenor of Kharghar Hill and Wetland Forum, asked, “How can agencies turn a blind eye when official RTI replies clearly show there was no clearance?”
The following bodies must now submit their official affidavits at least a week before the next hearing:
- Raigad District Collector
- Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB)
- State Directorate of Geology and Mining
- Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC)
⏳ What’s at Stake?
- Health of cancer patients
- Costly medical equipment
- Stability of Kharghar hills
- Tunnel infrastructure project
- Safety of thousands of residents
As public pressure mounts and the NGT steps in, the coming weeks will reveal whether environmental justice can triumph over negligence and greed.
