Parsik Hill derives its name from the Parsi settlers who escaped from forced conversion to Christianity by the Portuguese. When Portuguese established their rule in Bassien, they asked the Parsi population to convert. Parsis asked them time to think it over thus buying time to escape to the hills near Kalyan, a jurisdiction outside the control of the Portuguese. Parsis only returned to Bassien after British established their rule.
Due to the impact of quarrying and illegal housing, there is concern about the extent to which the reserved forest will remain in years to come. An ecological activist comments: "The hill has a huge potential for eco-tourism, given that it runs through the municipal limits of Thane and Navi Mumbai and is about 30 minutes from Mumbai. Besides trekking trails, there is also a rock-climbing centre in Mumbra." The ecological balances is also being unsettled by the number of people building and living in shanties in the forest, which could result in reduction or disappearance of species of flora and fauna, including more than 100 bird species.
Uses
Parsik Tunnel
The famous Parsik tunnel on - mainline lies in this hill. This tunnel is between and. Double Broad gauge track electrified passes through this tunnel. This reduced the distance between Thane and Diva to from formal. This tunnel is in length. This tunnel is one of the oldest tunnel in Asia.
Recreational area
It has been a favorite area for hikers and, since the 1960s, for rock climbers. Courses began to be conducted at Parsik Hills, having had a reputation as "some of the most interesting and convenient area for rock climbing", from the 1960s to 1980s by DarjeelingSherpa instructors. One of the noted instructors was Nawang Gombu. Rock climbers can complete advanced climbs in one half to one day. The area, most enjoyable in the winter or monsoon season, must be accessed by cutting through groups of illegal shanties, or hutments, that occupy the hill.
Quarrying
The area is losing its recreational appeal. About 9% of the top of the hill has been leveled due to quarrying, which is contracted to continue until about 2017. Material for general and road construction is created by blasting rock from the hill. It is estimated that at the present rate of excavation, 30% of the hill will have been removed or destroyed within that time.
Illegal housing
Thousands of shanties, especially along Shil Phata Road, have been built to shelter otherwise homeless families; Forest officials were reported in 2012 to estimate 11,000 shelters were built in the forested land. About 100 unauthorized temples have also been built on the hill. Chief Conservator of the Forests, R K Pole, stated that there are periodic campaigns to remove the shanties in accordance with high court orders, but the net result is that there is little effort, whether through "lack of administrative will and indulgence from political parties", to properly protect the forest land. Deputy Conservator of the Forests, G T Chavan said that there were plans to better police and protect the land; "We will build a 50-km-long wall. We are working towards evicting the squatters."
