It’s a small but definite victory for residents of buildings on forest land. On Wednesday, the state government said it would admit its failure to correct land records
MUMBAI: It’s a small but definite victory for residents of buildings on forest land. On Wednesday, the state government said it would admit its failure to correct land records and plead with the Supreme Court to regularise the buildings.
The state government has also decided to levy a nominal penalty of Rs70,000 per hectare, which works out to 70paise per square foot, to regularise these buildings.
The state government has decided to recommend de-notification of the land and identification of alternative land for afforestation.
However, a final decision on the issue will be taken by the Supreme Court. The matter is set to come up for hearing on April 28.
In another development indicative of the state government’s stance on the issue in future, state forest minister Babanrao Pachpute said they would be willing to consider applications for development of vacant land notified as private forest land.
“Undeveloped land, which comes under private forest, will be excluded from the affidavit. However, owners can individually apply in case they want to develop it. Such applications will be considered in future,” said Pachpute.
A residents’ delegation led by Congress MLC Charan Singh Sapra and president of the Hillside Residents Welfare Association, Prakash Padikkal, called on chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Wednesday to discuss the issue. “We pointed out that around 10 lakh legitimate tax-payers were being unnecessarily punished and the government should protect them,” said Sapra.
After the discussion, Sapra said the CM assured the residents that they would not be displaced and the government would file an affidavit in the Supreme Court admitting its error.
“We are happy that state government finally accepted its mistake in not correcting land records. It is yet to be decided whether the builders or the residents will pay the penalty,” Padikkal said.
Forest minister Pachpute, additional chief secretary, revenue and forests, JP Dange, BMC commissioner Jairaj Phatak, Thane district collector SS Zende and Thane’s chief conservator of forest Shree Bhagvan were also present at the meeting.
“People badly need open spaces and afforestation outside Mumbai to compensate for loss of forest land here will not help in any way,” said Debi Goenka of Bombay
Environmental Action Group.
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