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Residents of Ghatkopar Launch Signature Campaign to Protest Construction of Firing Range

Several trees have already been felled in the region while locals claim that the construction project has also damaged a waterfall.

Residents of Ghatkopar Launch Signature Campaign to Protest Construction of Firing Range
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Residents from Ghatkopar’s Bhatwadi have started a signature campaign on Sunday to save Khandoba Tekdi, a hill where the state is mulling the construction of a new firing range. 

As a result of the project, several trees have already been felled in the region while locals claim that the construction project has also damaged a waterfall. The firing range is being commissioned by the Public Works Department (PWD).

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The hill in question also has an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Khandoba with the surroundings containing at least 1,000 trees that are currently facing the possibility of removal for the project.   

Local resident Vaibhav Thackeray said, “We have considered this hill as our lungs. Sprawled over hundreds of acres, this hill also has a track for walkers and is a picnic spot. The waterfall also attracts hundreds of tourist (sic)."

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“The hill is not just lungs for Ghatkopar residents, but it also houses several reptiles. As the construction goes on, we fear more and more reptiles, disturbed by noise and shocks, will come down in Bhatwadi,” another resident added.

BJP MLA from the region Ram Kadam said this shows the current government’s double standards. “On the one hand, the government claims to be the saviour of the environment and on the other hand, it is destroying a hill. The hill used to be a firing range, which we got the government to close in 2015-16. But now they have come up with a closed firing range,” he pointed out.

Kadam added that he will take this matter up with the Chief Minister while saying that he will start agitations if the construction of the firing range is not halted. 

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