Certified CIDCO documents obtained under RTI reveal Original CC dated 18/01/2026, Revised CC dated 10/02/2026 and Amended Fire NOC dated 30/03/2026 – Fire NOC dated after both CCs, mandatory 4 NOCs missing, AAI Height NOC not on record, only 10 trees shown for 6.54-acre hill plot with 2.6 lakh cum excavation
Byline: Brahmanand R. Tiwari | Navi Mumbai | 22 August 2026
Kharghar, Navi Mumbai: An investigation based on certified documents obtained from CIDCO under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 has revealed serious procedural irregularities in the approvals granted to the premium residential project Godrej Varanya at Plot No. 17, 18 & 19, Sector 5A, Kharghar, being developed by Godrej Properties Ltd on a 60-year leasehold plot of 26,478 sq.mt. (6.54 acres) allotted by CIDCO for Rs.716.58 crores.
The documents, bearing the seal of PIO, CIDCO and digital signature of Chief Fire Officer Vijay Shantaram Rane, show that CIDCO issued two Commencement Certificates within 23 days, while mandatory NOCs required under its own Environmental Clearance (EC) were still pending.
The Timeline That Raises Questions:
As per RTI records:
• 11/10/2025: CIDCO grants Plan Approval No. CIDCO/PLNG/TPQ(NM)/2025/777 • 29/10/2025: SEIAA, Maharashtra considers proposal for EC • 18/12/2025: SEIAA grants EC No. SIA/MH/INFRA2/549703/2025 (EC ID: EC25B3813MH5794784N) – Fresh EC for 1214 flats, 9 towers, B+G+23 floors, height 74.90 mtrs, excavation 2,60,000 cum • 18/01/2026: CIDCO grants Original Building Permission No. 1573048 / Permit No. CITDA/B/2026/AP/L/00227 • 03/02/2026: Godrej applies for Revised Building Permission (Application No. RCITDA20290061) – Just 16 days after original CC • 10/02/2026: CIDCO grants Revised Building Permission No. 1384039 / Permit No. CITDA/RB/2026/APL/00007 – Marked “Amendant CC” – Within 7 days of revised application • 30/03/2026: CIDCO Fire Service grants 1st Amended Provisional Fire NOC No. CIDCO/FIRE/HQ/2026/E-436418
Violation 1: Commencement Certificates Issued Before Fire NOC
SEAC Specific Condition No.3 of the EC letter dated 18/12/2025 clearly mandates: “PP to obtain revised NOCs (i) C&D Waste Management NOC, (ii) Fire NOC, (iii) SWD NOC, (iv) Sewer NOC. The planning authority shall not issue commencement certificate unless PP obtains all NOCs.”
However, CIDCO issued Original CC on 18/01/2026 and Revised CC on 10/02/2026, while the Amended Fire NOC is dated 30/03/2026 – 71 days after Original CC and 48 days after Revised CC.
No SWD NOC, Sewer NOC and C&D Waste Management NOC have been provided in RTI reply till date.
Violation 2: Fire NOC Itself Says “Null & Void” Without AAI NOC.
The 8-page Amended Fire NOC dated 30/03/2026, digitally signed by Chief Fire Officer Vijay Shantaram Rane, contains three self-destructive clauses:
Clause 8: “NOC is issued in life & safety point of view only, the legality of plot & construction & FSI shall be confirmed with concerned department only.”
Clause 9: “NOC obtained by producing forge/false documents shall be treated as null & void.”
Last Paragraph: “It is the responsibility of the builder/Developer and the Architect to obtain relevant height clearance NOC from the AAI (Authority of India) before commencement of work. This proposal will become null and void if Aviation NOC from the AAI is not submitted.”
RTI reply does not contain any AAI Height Clearance NOC for 74.90 mtrs (Top 79.40 mtrs). Revised CC Condition No.14 also mandates separate AAI permission for operating cranes during construction. No such permission is on record.
As per CFO’s own order, the Fire NOC is currently null & void.
Violation 3: Plan Approval Before Environmental Clearance.
EC records show Plan Approval was granted on 11/10/2025, while SEIAA meeting was held on 29/10/2025 and EC was granted on 18/12/2025. Under EIA Notification 2006, no construction approval can be granted before EC.
Violation 4: Only 10 Trees for 6.54-Acre Hill?
EC declares: Existing trees on plot: 10 Nos, Trees to be cut: 10 Nos, Retained: Nil, Proposed plantation: 727 Nos (331 in RG + 396 Miyawaki on 132 sq.mt).
For a 26,478 sq.mt hillock in Sector 5A, which previously had substantial vegetation, declaration of only 10 trees has raised eyebrows. CIDCO has not provided Tree Census Report, Tree Authority permission, or site inspection report in RTI. CC Condition No.11 mandates Tree Authority permission before CC – not on record.
Violation 5: Self-Declared Non-Forest Land, 2.6 Lakh Cum Hill Cutting
In EC, PP self-declares: Non-Forest Land 2.647 Ha, Forest Land 0. No certificate from Dy. Conservator of Forests, Mangrove Cell has been provided. EC General Condition C(VII) says EC is subject to Forestry & Wildlife NOC including NBWL clearance – not on record.
EC admits excavation of 2,60,000 cum. No hill-cutting permission under Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, no mining permission, no geotechnical / hill slope stability report has been furnished.
Violation 6: Continuous Amendments to Avail UDCPR Benefit Without Fresh EC
Fire NOC dated 30/03/2026 admits: “Party has proposed in 1st amended floor of tower no. 9. Previous G+22 floor now proposed G+23 floor” and shops on 1st floor increased from 26 to 58 to obtain benefit of UDCPR. Built-up area decreased by 340.034 sq.mt to 2,31,890.901 sq.mt but height increased by 3.05 mtrs to 74.90 mtrs. Fire Fees of Rs.3,34,80,927.86 was paid on 16.10.2025.
EC Condition C(VI) says any change in scope requires fresh EC. No fresh EC obtained.
What Authorities Say:
This correspondent has filed a Final Consolidated Objection seeking revocation of both CCs, Fire NOC and EC with VC & MD, CIDCO and Member Secretary, SEIAA on 21/08/2026, with copies to Chief Vigilance Officer CIDCO, District Collector Raigad, DCF Mangrove Cell, and MPCB.
CIDCO Chief Planner and Godrej Properties were contacted for comment. Response awaited till publication time. Story will be updated if response received.
What Next:
RTI activist and journalist Brahmanand Tiwari, who obtained these documents, has also filed a Fresh RTI dated 21/08/2026 seeking AAI NOC, AAI Crane NOC, SWD NOC, Sewer NOC, C&D Waste NOC, Tree Authority NOC, Forestry/Wildlife NOC, DCF Certificate, Hill Cutting Permission, Geotechnical Report, full tender documents with bidder list, bid evaluation report, lease deed and inspection reports.
If no action is taken within 15 days, the complainant intends to approach NGT, Western Zone, Pune under Section 14 of NGT Act (as provided in Para 9 of EC letter – 30 days limitation from date of knowledge) and State Information Commission, Konkan Bench.
Documents in Possession of this Newspaper: Original CC, Revised CC, 8-page Amended Fire NOC with PIO seal C/1233 to C/1240 and digital signature, EC 7 pages, Fire Fee receipts No. 6100003505/2025 & 6100003596/2025 dated 16.10.2025.
