The Pune district administration has submitted a final proposal to the state government for the permanent transfer of approximately 44.5 acres of land in Mundhwa to the Botanical Survey of India (BSI). This move follows recommendations from a high-level committee led by additional chief secretary (revenue) Vikas Kharge, which was formed to investigate a controversial land transaction involving survey numbers 88/1 to 88/26 in Mundhwa.
Committee Recommendations and Government Action
The committee submitted its report on March 25, recommending the restoration of the land and its permanent transfer to the BSI to prevent future irregularities. Pune collector Jitendra Dudi confirmed that the district administration has completed its part of the process, and the file is now with the state government for final approval. The Kharge panel had directed the collectorate to finalize the proposal within two months.
Historical Context and Leasehold Status
The land parcel has been under the possession of BSI on a long-term lease since the 1950s, with the current agreement valid until 2038. Following the committee's findings, the administration initiated the transition from leasehold status to permanent ownership to provide the institute with long-term stability.
BSI Director Welcomes the Move
Kanad Das, director of the Botanical Survey of India, welcomed the decision, stating that permanent ownership of the 44.5-acre campus would significantly bolster conservation and research efforts. He emphasized that granting ownership rights would provide a major boost to scientific research and conservation programmes, particularly those focused on endemic and threatened plant species from the Western Ghats and other biodiversity hotspots. Das noted that the BSI has been pursuing this matter for months to remove administrative uncertainties associated with being a leaseholder.
Role of BSI's Mundhwa Campus
The BSI's Mundhwa campus plays a critical role in ex-situ conservation, housing flora collected from various biodiversity hotspots for scientific study. Permanent ownership would allow the institute to expand programmes related to the endangered flora of the Western Ghats with much-needed stability.
Background: Investigation into Illegal Land Sale
The move to convert the lease into permanent ownership stems from a major investigation into the illegal sale of government land in Mundhwa. The Kharge committee investigated the unauthorized transfer of portions of Survey No. 88/1 to 88/26 to Amadea Enterprises LLP, a firm co-owned by Parth Pawar. In its 4,000-page report, which was tabled in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, the committee characterized the transfer and registration of the government land as a serious irregularity. Several officials from the revenue, stamps, and registration departments were held responsible for facilitating illegal transactions. To safeguard the land, the committee directed the Pune collector to ensure the BSI receives permanent title to the property.
The Botanical Survey of India operates under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, serving as the nodal agency for plant exploration and documentation across India. This permanent transfer will provide the institute with the stability needed to continue its vital conservation and research work.
