The Raigad district collector has recently struck down an order passed by a former Panvel sub divisional officer (SDO) that permitted the diversion of approximately 30 acres (12 hectares) of private forest land in Morbe village, Panvel, for non-forest purposes. The collector's reversal order was issued in March 2026, following an appeal filed by Deputy Conservator of Forest of the Alibaug division, Rahul Patil, against the SDO's decision from September 2023.
Details of the Forest Land Diversion
The private forest land in question is rich in trees, natural streams, and other ecological resources, forming a part of the green heritage of the region. The owners of this land, including two residents of Cuffe Parade in south Mumbai, had applied for and obtained exemptions under a state law. However, the Panvel SDO allowed the diversion without obtaining prior approval from the Union government, which led to the eventual cancellation of his order.
Legal Framework and Objections
The owners sought exemption under section 3 (2) of the Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition) Act of 1975 from the SDO in Panvel. However, section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 strictly restricts state government authorities from diverting forest land for non-forest purposes without prior permission from the Union government. The forest division of Alibaug objected to the application, highlighting this legal provision in its submission before the SDO.
Despite these objections, the then Panvel SDO overruled the submissions and passed the order on September 5, 2023. The Raigad collector reversed this order on March 11, 2026, directing concerned officials to restore the land transaction records. An appeal period of 90 days has been granted for further action.
Concerns and Reactions
Many environmentalists and citizens had expressed concern over the swift deforestation decisions amid rising concerns about climate change. Advocate Rajendra Madhavi alleged that a thorough investigation should be conducted into forest land diversion cases across the state. A Panvel forest official confirmed that the illegal private forest land diversion was allowed by the SDO but was strongly objected to by the forest department.
The Deputy Conservator of Forest of the Alibaug division, Rahul Patil, did not respond to calls and text messages seeking comment.
