NAVI MUMBAI — Residents and environmental groups petitioned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on July 24, 2026, demanding an immediate halt to destructive illegal quarry blasting on the Kharghar hills.
Severe environmental degradation continues on the Kharghar hill range as illegal stone quarrying blasts shake residential and medical zones day and night. Local environmental forums have filed urgent petitions with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to intervene and stop the excavation happening near Utsav Chowk and behind the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer (ACTREC).
The issue is currently being monitored by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). During hearings, the Raigad collector explicitly stated that no quarrying permissions have been granted in the area since 2020-21. Despite this official stance, residents report that massive explosions and hill-cutting activities for real estate projects are happening daily, destabilizing natural slopes and increasing monsoon landslide risks.
The blasts also pose a critical medical hazard. ACTREC officials submitted an affidavit to the NGT warning that the relentless vibrations threaten the structural integrity of hospital buildings and could severely disrupt highly sensitive, vibration-free cancer treatment equipment, including Proton Beam Therapy systems.
Why It Matters for Kharghar Organized nodes like Kharghar derive their high real estate value from their balance of urban planning and proximity to nature. When illegal quarrying is permitted to destroy the Kharghar hills, it covers the node in hazardous dust and noise pollution.
For commercial and residential property investors near Sector 36 and the Valley Shilp complex, environmental degradation is a direct threat to property valuations. Premium corporate tenants and retail brands do not want to lease space in a neighborhood plagued by illegal blasting and poor air quality. The state's ability to enforce environmental laws and protect institutions like the Tata Cancer Hospital will dictate whether Kharghar remains a top-tier investment destination or devolves into a poorly regulated construction zone.
FAQ Why are Kharghar residents protesting against quarry blasting? Residents petitioned the Chief Minister on July 24, 2026, to stop illegal hill blasting near Utsav Chowk and the Tata Cancer Hospital, citing severe noise, dust pollution, and landslide risks.
Is stone quarrying legal in Kharghar? The Raigad collector informed the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that no new permissions for stone quarrying have been granted in the area since 2020-21.
How does quarry blasting affect the Tata Cancer Hospital in Kharghar? Hospital officials stated that vibrations from the nearby blasts could damage buildings and severely disrupt highly sensitive cancer treatment equipment, such as Proton Beam Therapy systems.
Source: The Times of India / National Green Tribunal (NGT) Filings
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