**Mumbai: Bombay High Court Orders Expert Committee to Tackle Urban Chaos in Badlapur**
The Bombay High Court has described the unchecked growth of Badlapur as a recipe for “urban chaos” and a “municipal nightmare.” In response, the court has ordered the formation of an expert improvement committee tasked with preparing a blueprint for the town’s systematic development. Badlapur falls under the jurisdiction of the Kulgaon-Badlapur Municipal Council (KBMC) in Thane district.
### Civic Infrastructure Concerns
A bench comprising Justices Girish Kulkarni and Arif Doctor highlighted critical infrastructure shortcomings in Badlapur. The lack of proper drainage lines, sewerage facilities, and functional sewage treatment plants has left thousands of residents struggling with basic civic services.
“The present plight appears to be completely beyond the control and/or comprehension of the Chief Officer to achieve appropriate town planning,” the court remarked. It stressed the urgent need for external expertise to address these issues effectively.
### Formation of Expert Committee
The court directed that the expert committee be constituted within two weeks. This committee will identify pressing urban planning problems and propose both immediate and long-term solutions.
The committee will include:
– Experts nominated by CIDCO and the state’s director of town planning
– The additional collector of Thane
– The CEO of KBMC
– A representative of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB)
– An eminent social worker nominated by the civic body
The overarching goal is to transform Kulgaon-Badlapur into a “Model Town” comparable to Navi Mumbai.
### Complaint and Compensation Ordered
The ruling follows a plea filed by Yashwant Anna Bhoir, who alleged that sewage from the Trishul Golden Ville Cooperative Housing Society, developed by A Plus Lifespace, was draining into his adjoining plot. Advocates Avinash Fatangare and Archana Shelar appeared on Bhoir’s behalf.
In response, the court ordered the developer to pay Rs 10 lakh in compensation to Bhoir and mandated remedial measures to be implemented within six weeks. Additionally, Rs 50,000 in costs were imposed on KBMC due to the civic body’s failure to enforce basic regulations.
### Ward-Wise Inspections Mandated
Raising “great doubt” about KBMC’s enforcement of powers against unauthorized drainage connections, the court ordered ward-wise inspections of high-rise buildings to curb such violations.
### Environmental Concerns
The bench was particularly critical of the ongoing release of sewage and untreated waste into the Ulhas River, condemning it as “an intolerable attack by ‘we the humans’ on such natural resources.”
### The Need for Planned Development
Noting Badlapur’s rise as a “popular suburb” due to its connectivity with Mumbai and Thane, the court cautioned that development must not outpace infrastructural capacity.
“Authorities are required to ensure robust town planning measures… not an urban chaos resulting in a haphazard concrete jungle,” the judges said. They emphasized that poor planning already jeopardizes citizens’ fundamental right to a healthy environment.
### Public Health Warning
The court warned that failure to act promptly would lead to “a nightmare of municipal chaos and high degree of urban disorder,” causing numerous public woes, including health hazards such as typhoid, malaria, and dengue.
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https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/bombay-hc-orders-expert-committee-to-curb-urban-chaos-in-badlapur-ensuring-systematic-town-planning
