Dinesh Kamath's news 'Tourists criticize CIDCO for denying entry to Kharghar Hill' that was published in Newsband

Tourists criticize CIDCO for denying entry to Kharghar Hill

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: Some tourists expressed their anger over the fact that the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) has prohibited the tourists from entering Kharghar Hill for four months. The fact is CIDCO has issued this prohibition orders for the good of these tourists. According to a CIDCO official, during the rains the hill is dangerous for trekkers and hence entry here is not allowed throughout the rainy season.

Kharghar Hill is a place where landslides and tree-falling incidents are very common during the rains and this poses a great danger to human lives. CIDCO officials are aware of the fact that Kharghar Hill is one of the major tourist spots in Navi Mumbai and people from within and outside the city are terribly attracted to this place. But one has to consider the safety of these tourists too and hence CIDCO had to come up with the decision to bar anyone from entering the hill during monsoons.

The tourists argue that it is only during the rains that this place provides very attractive scenic beauty. Such scenery cannot be seen during summer season, they say. They strongly feel that the decision of CIDCO not to allow tourists to stroll on this hill during rainy season is absolutely wrong.

But CIDCO authorities stick to their point that monsoon makes Kharghar Hill a dangerous spot for tourists who can meet with accidents owing to series of landslides that take place here during the rains. Since some tourists tend to defy the orders, CIDCO has gone to the extent of blocking the entry to the hill till the rains go away.

CIDCO authorities, however, have been considerate to the residents around here by permitting them to climb the hill to fetch their daily need from the market that is situated at the base of the hill.

What prompted CIDCO to prevent tourists from entering Kharghar Hill during monsoon is the experience they had during the 2005 deluge. Since then CIDCO just does not dare to take any chance especially during the monsoon season. It is clear that the CIDCO authorities have safety of tourists uppermost in their minds and hence are forced to come up with such a tough decision.