The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has escalated a serious case of alleged illegal quarrying activity taking place behind the renowned Tata Memorial Hospital, a premier cancer care facility, to the desk of the Maharashtra Chief Secretary. This move comes after revelations that no official permissions were granted for any mining work at the sensitive site.
Official Confirmations Reveal Permission Lapse
In a significant development, two key government bodies provided damning evidence through the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Both the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and the Maharashtra Environment Department, in their separate replies, confirmed a critical fact: no permissions had been granted for quarrying at the site in question. These official admissions form the core of the environmental violation now under the NGT's scanner.
NGT Steps In Amid Environmental Concerns
The tribunal's decision to bring the matter directly to the state's highest bureaucratic authority, the Chief Secretary, underscores the gravity of the situation. The illegal quarrying is reported to be occurring in close proximity to the Tata Memorial Hospital, a center of national importance for cancer treatment. This raises not just environmental and regulatory red flags, but also concerns about potential dust, noise, and vibration impacts on patients and healthcare operations.
Next Steps and Accountability
By escalating the issue, the NGT has effectively demanded urgent intervention and a detailed action plan from the Maharashtra government. The Chief Secretary's office is now expected to investigate how such unauthorized activity could proceed unchecked and to initiate immediate corrective measures. The case highlights ongoing challenges in monitoring and preventing illegal mining and quarrying in peri-urban areas, even near critical infrastructure. The development was reported by Mrityunjay Bose and was last updated on 21 December 2025.
