The Vidarbha Rajya Andolan Samiti (VRAS) has launched a strong protest against the proposed relocation of the forest department headquarters from Nagpur to Mumbai. On Tuesday, the organization submitted a formal memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, demanding immediate intervention to stop what they call a violation of the historic Nagpur Pact.
Memorandum Submission at CM Secretariat
The delegation, led by VRAS joint secretary Asha Pathan, handed over the memorandum at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Nagpur. The move comes in response to recent media reports suggesting that the state government is considering shifting the forest department's main office to Mumbai.
The VRAS leadership emphasized that according to the Nagpur Pact, the head office and other directorates were specifically designated to be located in Nagpur. This historical agreement has long governed the administrative structure of the region.
Violation of Historical Agreement
Pro-statehood activists from VRAS expressed deep concern over the potential relocation. They argued that moving offices out of Vidarbha region disregards the Nagpur Pact and constitutes a grave injustice to the local population.
"Shifting offices out of Vidarbha disregards the Nagpur Pact and is a grave injustice to the people of the region, who have historically protected and conserved Vidarbha's forests," the activists stated in their memorandum.
The organization highlighted the crucial role that local communities have played in forest conservation and protection throughout Vidarbha's history. They believe that maintaining the forest department headquarters in Nagpur is essential for continued effective management of the region's rich forest resources.
Threat of Agitation and Political Support
VRAS leaders have issued a clear warning to the state government, stating that they will launch a significant agitation if the relocation proposal is not shelved immediately. The threat of organized protests adds pressure on the administration to reconsider the proposed move.
The memorandum submission witnessed participation from several prominent leaders including:
- East Vidarbha VRAS president Arun Kedar
- Youth wing president Mukesh Masurkar
- Jai Vidarbha Party (JVP) women president Sudhatai Pavde
- Core committee member Ramesh Varudkar
- Nagpur district vice-president Nilimatai Selukar
- Anand Nikhar
The diverse representation from various wings of the organization demonstrates the widespread concern about the potential relocation across different sections of Vidarbha society.
As the situation develops, all eyes remain on the state government's response to VRAS's demands and whether the forest department headquarters will remain in Nagpur as per the historical agreement that has shaped the region's administrative landscape for decades.
