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CIDCO issues notice to Bhumiraj Builders over Parsik Hill cutting

City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has served a show-cause notice on a developer for violating the conditions of an agreement regarding the maintenance and plantation of Parsik Hill slope. CIDCO informed the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission (HRC) of this in an affidavit, stating that a joint inspection by CIDCO and other government bodies found that the developer, Bhumiraj Builders Private Limited, had violated the terms of the agreement. The violations included the illegal construction of a concrete platform for advertising without permission and the destruction of existing greenery.

The HRC had intervened after media reports of the destruction of greenery and digging along the slope of Parsik Hill. A CIDCO affidavit, signed by Town Service Manager Deepak K Jogi, detailed the leave and license arrangement with Bhumiraj Builders and said that a joint inspection by the planning agency and other government bodies found violations by the developer. CIDCO's affidavit stated that the developer violated the agreement by 'illegally' constructing a PCC pathway, a concrete platform of 4 meter by 4 meter for erecting an advertisement hoarding without permission which came to light during the joint survey.

As a result of these violations, CIDCO has served the notice on the builder asking him to remove all the construction within a fortnight or face legal action. However, the developer has denied the use of a JCB or any other heavy machinery to dig or excavate the hill slope, and has stated through his advocate that due to the hilly terrain of the said plots of land legally leased out to their company for construction of residential-cum-commercial buildings, the company had applied to CIDCO seeking its permission for construction of a retention wall for soil stabilization and storm water system with beautification. The objective of the construction of such a retention wall is to control land sliding and soil erosion during rains and floods. The same is essential for the safety of the residents and other portions of Parsik Hills.

The builder's statement further reads: "CIDCO had vide Leave and Licensee Agreement in December 2021 granted our company the license to use and occupy the piece and parcel of land known as Hill slope open land on the eastern and western boundaries situated at sector 31/31, CBD Belapur, on "as is where is basis" for a period of 22 months at the rate of Rs 100 per annum for plantation and maintenance and to enable our company to Commence process of preparing plan for soil stabilization and storm water system duly vetted by IT."

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