Blame it on the builders, says forest official

MUMBAI: For some 1.5 lakh families living in and around Mumbai, their homes have turned into forest. Suddenly, they have come to know that their ‘dream houses’ are illegal, as they stand on private forest land. “But they are suffering for no fault of theirs,” a forest department official told DNA.

“We can’t blame the residents. They were completely unaware of this aspect. It is solely the fault of builders,” said Bhaskar Walimbe, deputy conservator of forest, Thane.

As per information provided by the forest department, the investigation process began in 2005. The department surveyed the disputed areas, and notices were issued to individuals residing on forest land. A detailed report was forwarded to the revenue department for further action. The latter joined forces with the forest department and listed the plots which came under the purview of ‘private forest land’.

The common man has very little idea about private forest land. The word forest has an exclusive definition as per law. And private forest land is any forest which is not a government property, but includes section 34, 35 and 35 (3) of Maharashtra Private Forest Acquisition Act 1975.

According to Walimbe, around 27 buildings in Thane would be affected by the High Court order. But sources in TMC said that the number would be around 50.