June 9, 2025: The Maharashtra Irrigation Department has declared the under-construction Antilia Ghat on the Ulhas River in Ulhasnagar’s Shahad area as illegal and directed the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation (UMC) to demolish it. The ghat, estimated at a cost of Rs 7 crore, is being built by the Public Works Department (PWD) using MLA development funds sanctioned by BJP legislator Kumar Ailani.
The directive follows a formal complaint filed by environmental activist Sarita Khanchandani, who alleged that the project involved unauthorised tree felling and encroachment on the riverbank. In 2022, work on the ghat began behind the Regency Antilia housing society, intended for Ganpati idol immersions and public access as a walkway.
Khanchandani initially raised the matter with UMC, citing illegal deforestation. When no response was received, she escalated the issue to the state irrigation department and the Thane collector’s office. “Satellite images clearly show that dense greenery once covered the riverbank. Today, that green cover has vanished. Even more concerning, the UMC commissioner, who heads the Tree Authority, attended the bhoomipujan ceremony,” she stated.
She further alleged that mature, heritage trees were felled without authorisation, rendering the riverbank susceptible to soil erosion and flooding. “No records or permissions regarding tree felling have been made public,” she added.
In a written directive, the irrigation department reminded the UMC of its duty to prevent illegal dumping and encroachments on riverbeds, instructing immediate removal of the unauthorised construction.
In response, MLA Kumar Ailani refuted the claims, asserting that the project had received clearance from the Thane collector’s office. “The ghat will provide a convenient immersion point for Ganpati festivities. So far, we’ve planted around 200 trees and aim to reach 1,000,” he said.
Source: Times Of India
