Maharashtra Forest Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ganesh Naik has once again voiced strong opposition to the state government's decision to incorporate 14 villages from Kalyan taluka into the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). Addressing attendees at the Golden Glory Festival of 100 Charitable Activities in Navi Mumbai on Friday, Naik labelled the merger as a "whimsical decision" driven by individual interests rather than public welfare. He pledged to dedicate his life to reversing the move and vowed that the villages would be excluded from NMMC within six months following the upcoming assembly elections.

This stance underscores ongoing debates over urban expansion and resource allocation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where geographic and administrative boundaries often spark political friction.

Naik's criticism centres on the potential financial strain the merger would place on NMMC, which he estimates could exceed Rs 6,000 crore for essential infrastructure development. He pointed out that the villages are separated from Navi Mumbai by a mountain range, necessitating costly projects like a tunnel, whose projected expenses have ballooned from an initial Rs 500 crore.

Naik also accused the government of mismanaging Navi Mumbai's finances, including delays in releasing fixed deposits and squandering public funds on superfluous initiatives such as concrete road constructions in select wards. He emphasised that Navi Mumbai residents should not bear the burden of developing areas more aligned with the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) limits, urging citizens to remain cautious amid these decisions.

The controversy traces back to the villages' fluctuating administrative status. The 14 affected areas—Dahisar, Navali, Nigu, Mokashi Pada, Bhandarli, Pimpri Gaon, Ghoteghar, Bambali, Uttarshiv, Nagaon, Narivali, Vakalan, Bale, and Dahisar Mori—were initially under NMMC jurisdiction from its formation in 1992 until around 2000. They were then transferred to the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) after local protests against rising property taxes.

Over the past 15 to 20 years, however, villagers have complained of neglect, including poor civic amenities and stalled development, prompting demands for re-inclusion in NMMC during the recent Lok Sabha elections. The state government, responding to these pleas, issued a resolution to merge them back, appointing NMMC as the planning authority.

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Despite the villagers' calls for better governance, Naik remains steadfast in his resistance, framing it as a defence of Navi Mumbai's economic stability. His position reflects broader political dynamics within Maharashtra's ruling Mahayuti alliance, where tensions over regional priorities have surfaced in past disputes involving former Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Naik assured that his opposition would be conducted peacefully but firmly, respecting all stakeholders while prioritising local interests.

As elections approach, this issue could influence voter sentiment in Thane and Navi Mumbai constituencies, highlighting the challenges of balancing urban growth with fiscal responsibility.

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