Include Kharghar in NMMC: Residents

Kharghar Cooperative Housing Society Federation is demanding that Kharghar be included in Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) jurisdiction and not in the proposed Panvel Municipal Corporation.

The federation has initiated a signature campaign to submit the demand to the Raigad collector.

Navi Mumbai development took off in 1970 to decongest Mumbai. With a large number of people flocking to the city, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) took up the development of Kharghar.

At present, Cidco provides civic services in the node. Over the years, the Panvel Municipal Council has struggled to provide adequate infrastructure, water and health services to Panvel city. Residents of Kharghar fear that the city too will have to face similar problems if it is included in the corporation jurisdiction. The residents are planning to give their objection in writing and demand that the node be included in NMMC area.

A meeting of the residents to discuss the issue was held earlier this week. Over 250 representatives from various housing societies were present in the meeting. “The Cidco has so far completed 40% development work in Kharghar. There is still 60% work pending,” said captain SH Kalawat, the president, Kharghar Cooperative Housing Society. “Kharghar has always been known as a node of Navi Mumbai, so it should be a part of the NMMC.”