Belapur Residents Question NMMC Soil Testing on Parsik Hill

Soil testing being conducted on Parsik Hill in Belapur ahead of laying a new water pipeline has triggered questions from local citizens and activists regarding its technical necessity and the expenditure involved.

According to officials from the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC), the testing is underway to evaluate ground and soil conditions before work begins on the proposed water pipeline. However, residents have questioned whether a fresh assessment is required on the existing hill terrain, noting that the stretch already houses one of NMMC's major water storage tanks.

Activists have sought clarity on whether the civic administration conducted adequate technical and financial scrutiny before proceeding with the work. They have raised specific queries regarding who recommended the soil testing, which officials cleared the proposal, whether the municipal commissioner granted approval, the total sanctioned cost, and which private agency was appointed to execute the testing.

The controversy has also sparked concerns regarding transparency within the civic body. Activists alleged that responses to queries filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act are increasingly being withheld by the administration. They have demanded that comprehensive details about the pipeline project and its associated soil testing be made public.

While acknowledging that civic engineers possess technical expertise, activists noted that if the soil testing is essential to verify if the ground can support the pipeline, NMMC must explain the specific technical parameters and scientific justification behind the decision.

NMMC officials are expected to clarify the approval process, overall expenditure, and technical rationale underlying the testing exercise on the hill.