Gilbert hill

The rare black basalt rock in Andheri (West), which dates back 65 million years, was declared a Grade II heritage precinct by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation in 2007. It was formed during the Mesozoic Era when molten lava squeezed out of the Earth’s clefts . Standing 200-feet high, the rock offers a panoramic view of the area .Similar geological formations include the Devils Tower and the Devils Postpile in the US.

A damning report by a high court-appointed committee blamed quarrying and construction activities for the hill’s erosion. But the move neither galvanized the authorities nor did it stop encroachers and real estate developers.Geologists say the development in the area has, in fact, weakened the rock. In 2006, boulders of black basalt came crashing down from the hill in what geologists said was a sign of things to come.

Exasperated with unending official apathy, activists and locals have decided to take up cudgels for the beleaguered Gilbert Hill, one of the city’s most awe-inspiring heritage sites, by starting an online campaign. “Every day, we find mounds of construction debris being dumped at the foot of Gilbert Hill. Also, since the past few months, there has been a spurt of illegal encroachments around the hill,” said Sandeep Pardeshi, one of the trustees of Gaondevi Temple which is located atop the hill. “If such things continue at the same pace, it will be difficult to preserve the heritage structure and the hill’s remaining beauty will be lost.” As a last-ditch effort, the Gaondevi Temple trustees along with activist-documentary filmmaker Shail Rane have begun an online petition imploring President Pratibha Patil to step in.