Bombay High Court Directs Lonavala Municipal Council To Preserve Lonavala-Khandala’s Charm And Act Against Illegal Constructions
Bombay High Court Directs Lonavala Municipal Council To Preserve Lonavala-Khandala’s Charm And Act Against Illegal Constructions
Mumbai | July 26, 2025 – The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government and the Lonavala Municipal Council to take firm action against unauthorized constructions in Lonavala. The court also ordered the setup of a public grievance redressal system regarding these issues.
The bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne expressed concern that unregulated construction and inadequate infrastructure could destroy the natural beauty of the Lonavala-Khandala region. Highlighting the need for environmental protection, the court emphasized the importance of sustainable planning in ecologically sensitive areas.
The court instructed the authorities to immediately prepare a new development plan and control regulations to improve essential infrastructure such as water supply, solid waste management, sewage treatment, stormwater drainage, and the repair and widening of roads. It also insisted that all new constructions must strictly follow infrastructure-related guidelines.
This directive came while disposing of a public interest litigation filed in 2007 by the Lonavala-Khandala Citizens Forum, representing local residents. The petition highlighted the pressure on basic civic amenities due to rapid urbanization and growing tourism in the hill station towns.
The High Court also urged the state government to consider classifying Lonavala-Khandala officially as a “hill station” — a request placed by the petitioners and categorized by the court as a policy matter.
The court warned that without urgent and concrete measures, the charm that makes Lonavala and Khandala popular weekend getaways for Pune and Mumbai residents would be lost forever.
