Akhya Pandey
On July 23, 2025, the Bombay High Court took strong steps to control the rising chaos of unregulated construction in Lonavala and Khandala. In a PIL that’s been pending since 2007, the Court gave clear directions to the Maharashtra government and the Lonavala Municipal Council to bring the situation under control.
The division bench of Justice Gautam Patel and Justice Kamal Khata asked for a new Development Plan (DP) and updated Development Control Regulations (DCR). These must be designed keeping in mind the region’s existing infrastructure and the environmental strain it is facing due to rapid construction.
Until the new plan is ready and notified, any new construction proposal involving more than four flats or over 2000 square feet of built-up area must be cleared by the Expert Committee. This Committee was first set up by the High Court back in 2014 and will now continue to screen larger projects for environmental and civic impact.
The Court ordered the Municipal Council to act immediately and upgrade basic facilities. This includes improving water supply, sewerage lines, garbage collection, drainage, and road widening where needed. The judges observed that the current system cannot support the tourist rush that touches lakhs of people on peak weekends.
One of the Court’s firmest directions was to crack down on unauthorized buildings. The Municipal Council has been told to take action against illegal construction, carry out demolitions wherever required, and make sure the grievance Redressal system is visible and accessible to the public.
The Court also asked the State government to look into declaring Lonavala and Khandala as hill stations. This would allow stricter environmental controls and planning guidelines to kick in, under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966. This matter has been going on for nearly two decades. The PIL, filed by resident Pramod Kumar and others, raised concerns about garbage overflow, blocked roads, unchecked construction, and overall mismanagement in the area. The petitioners had also pointed out that the region’s natural beauty is being lost due to negligence by planning authorities.
Court’s Observation
Justice Patel, during the hearing, said that no place can survive if construction keeps increasing, but civic facilities remain the same. The judges noted that Lonavala and Khandala are suffering because of a mismatch between the pace of development and the readiness of the infrastructure.
Bench: Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne
Click here to access order.
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