Mumbai, Jul 8 (PTI) Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday warned strict action would be taken against those responsible for damaging the natural environment of Mahabaleshwar and Matheran, both popular hill stations in the state.
A complete inspection of violations of land lease conditions and unauthorised constructions in Matheran (Raigad district) and Mahabaleshwar (Satara district) will be carried out within the next three months, he said.
Responding to a calling attention motion in the legislative council, the minister stated that a high-level committee headed by the Konkan Divisional Commissioner would be appointed to investigate the entire matter.
A report on the action taken would be submitted in the next legislative session, he added.
The government has also taken serious note of illegal decisions related to the leasing of government lands in environmentally sensitive areas of Pune and Konkan divisions, as well as unauthorised constructions carried out in violation of lease conditions, Bawankule said.
In Mahabaleshwar, 26 leased land parcels were converted from Class-II (conditional /restricted) to Class-I (freehold/unrestricted) on February 8, 2022. The decision had raised concerns that it could lead to uncontrolled construction and threaten the fragile ecology of the region. The decision was taken despite objections from Law and Judiciary as well as environment departments.
Notably, this conversion allows owners to sell, redevelop, or transfer the land without prior government permission.
After the matter came to the government’s attention, a committee was immediately constituted and the controversial decision was cancelled, the minister told the Upper House.
Some parties have approached the Bombay High Court against this decision, and the HC has granted a stay in the matter. The next hearing is scheduled for August 4 and the government would present a strong case before the court and would not allow these valuable lands to fall into private hands, the revenue minister insisted.
He said violations of land lease conditions in Matheran and Lonavala, a hill station in Pune district, will also be probe and the process will be concluded within three months Since the British-era, Matheran, a tiny automobile-free hill station near Mumbai, has had 514 plots, 194 market areas, and 219 residential lands under lease agreements. However, several violations of legal provisions and lease conditions have taken place on a large scale. Tree cutting and damage to the natural environment have also been reported in the hill station, Bawankule maintained.
“A complete inspection of violations of lease conditions and unauthorised constructions in Matheran and Mahabaleshwar will be carried out within the next three months. Decisions regarding which structures should be demolished and which may be granted permission will be taken in accordance with forest and environmental policies. No encroachments will be allowed in eco-sensitive zones,” he insisted.
During the discussion, Pravin Darekar (BJP) criticised government officials and alleged misuse of authority by district officials.
He said, “District officials have misused their powers, and another illegal Mahabaleshwar has been created in the region. All government agencies ignored the issue. In Matheran, tourists do not have space to park vehicles, while government lands are being sold.” The ruling party MLC demanded action against officials responsible for irregularities.
MLC Aniket Tatkare, while supporting strict action, emphasised that local employment dependent on tourism should be protected. PTI PR RSY
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