5 days ago
Navi Mumbai hill quarry blasts endanger Tata cancer hospital
Navi Mumbai: The blasting activities at Kharghar Hill quarry have affected the Tata Cancer Hospital's functioning, besides causing distress to patients. The director of the Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research & Education in Cancer (ACTREC) has made an urgent appeal to the chief minister for intervention.
The tehsildar has confirmed the quarry's lack of proper authorisation.
The unlawful quarrying activities near Tata Cancer Hospital at Kharghar Hills, reportedly run by politicians and quarry operators, have resulted in damage to the hospital's buildings. These operations pose risks to patients and valuable medical equipment.
The ACTREC director, Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, in his letter to the CM stated, "It's the health of the patients that is more important and which is invisible and non-negotiable.
The northwest hill near our cancer treatment facility has been severely impacted, with multiple pits excavated and green cover obliterated."
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The continuous blasting and drilling operations produce excessive noise and dust pollution, jeopardising patient wellbeing and environmental health. Dr Chaturvedi has sought immediate governmental action to halt these "destructive" quarrying activities and explore sustainable alternatives.
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He stressed the necessity of safeguarding cancer patients' health and welfare, protecting biodiversity, and maintaining eco-sensitive areas.
An RTI query by Mumbai-based NGO NatConnect Foundation revealed that the quarry was operating without government approval. NatConnect director, B N Kumar, brought the matter to the chief minister's attention, who referred it to Raigad's district collector.
Following a 2018 NGT ruling regarding Parsik Hill quarrying, environmental clearance is required for such operations.
Dr Chaturvedi informed the CM about structural damage to 25-year-old hospital buildings, including cracked beams and slabs, weakening ACTREC campus structures.
The deterioration has led to water infiltration during rains, causing fungal growth in cleanroom facilities and increasing patient risks. Dr Chaturvedi highlighted serious concerns about rising noise and dust pollution from uncontrolled quarrying adjacent to ACTREC.
These ongoing activities have virtually destroyed a previously verdant hill.
The dust affects residential sectors 22, 30, and 35, contaminating the hospital's sterile treatment areas. This creates considerable risks for vulnerable patients receiving crucial treatments like bone marrow transplants and proton therapy. Equipment requiring sterile environments faces persistent contamination risks.
Dr Chaturvedi pointed out the quarrying operations' proximity to Pandavkada Waterfalls, an eco-tourism site, and the upcoming Kharghar-Turbhe tunnel. Jyoti Nadkarni from the Kharghar Hill and Wetlands forum noted regular observations of dump trucks transporting stones from the quarry area.
