The area in Vasai where a landslide took place on July 13, claiming two lives, is a mining hub for chawl builder mafia who brazenly flatten hills without any relevant permissions from the government. The mafia also do not pay any royalty to the government as mandated under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957, thus causing loss to the state treasury.  

Swapnil D’Cunha, activist and president of Vasai city MNS, alleged that the mafia, working together with local administration and government officials, razed hills on a 169-guntha private plot with survey number 146 (3) at Rajawali, Vasai, sold the soil and built chawls there, all without paying any royalty to the government.