It is the State Govt. which has changed the land records in 2006 and declared hundreds of housing societies, residential complexes, hospitals as forest.

OVER 5 lakh affected flat-buyers residing on the so-called private forest land in Central and Western suburbs have warned the authorities of dire consequences if the state government regularised their homes.

Participating in the public meeting at Mahapalika Maidan Kandivli on Sunday, residents said they were innocent as they were not aware of the ownership of the land. If anyone is to be blamed it is the builder and authorities themselves who had given clearance to the residential and commercial projects.

BJP Leader Dr Kirit Somaiya who addressed the meeting blasted the state government saying that after issuing instruction in early 2006 declaring developed complexes as Forest, transferring the ownership in the name of the Govt., now Maharashtra Govt. is playing another drama to protect fivelakh residents.

In all, more than 150 survey numbers belong to Mulund, Nahur, Malad, Poisar, Kanheri, Magathane, Borivali, Dahisar, Ghodbunder, Kashi, Kavesar, Kolshet, Majiwade, Mira, Yeoor, Pachpakhadi, Manpada of Thane Dist. and Mandale, Mahul of Chembur. Dr. Somaiya said that the State Govt. is in full knowledge of impact and effect of its affidavit, arguments in the Court that "forest land ownership should be transferred to the State Govt. All non-forest activities should be stopped immediately".

It is the state Govt. which has changed the land records in 2006 and declared hundreds of housing societies, residential complexes, hospitals as Forest. The Forest Dept. of Maharashtra Govt. was sleeping for 50 years from 1956 to 2006. It is the Revenue, Forest and Urban Ministries of Govt. of Maharashtra which has allotted land of Mulund, Ghodbunder, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, has publicly shown as developed land, for 50 years allowed the builders, developers and land owners to develop and sell residential premises to innocent, honest middle class people.

Somaiya, who is pursuing the issue with both the State and Union authorities since December 2005 once again demanded the amendment of the Maharashtra Private Forest (Acquisition) Act 1975.

The statement of the State Forest Minister, Shri Pachpute, is making a joke. Pachpute has made a public statement that he has informed the Union Agriculture Minister, Sharad Pawar, "we will take care of honest innocent 5 lakh citizens". Why the Maharashtra Govt. did not amend the Private Forest Act for 3 years? Why they did not approach Govt. of India before starting such cruel action?

Somaiya said, he along with the Leader of Opposition, Pandurang Phundkar and Gopinath Munde, has made a detailed presentation to the Chief Minister, Vilasrao Deshmukh in February/March 2006. The State Govt., in public, went on making announcement that "we will protect innocent resident/buyer". Simultaneously, it went on issuing circulars demanding stopping of non-forest activities, also made presentation in the Court insisting implementation of 1975 Maharashtra Forest Act, Forest Conservation Act of 1980, Reservation of Forest Act of 1925.

Somaiya said the outcome of the Petition in the Supreme Court cannot be different. If the State Govt. goes on asking implementation of all the above three Forest Acts and demanding transfer of ownership in the name of the State Govt. and stopping non-forest activities, the verdict in the Supreme Court will be on the same lines as the Mumbai High Court.

BJP demanded that the State Govt. should apologise to the lakhs of innocent people and to immediately correct the whole blunder of the last 50 years and give justice to the citizens of Mulund, Ghodbunder, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad.

The Govt. records till 2006 for 100 years have been showing all these pieces of land as developed land and non-forest. The land records, development plan, various orders issued under Urban Land Ceiling Act have authenticated all these pieces of land as non-forest. Maharashtra Govt. accepted stamp duty in respect of registered documents connected with such land.

The affected residents and Dr. Kirit Somaiya have followed up this matter with State Govt., Central Govt., Forest Dept, Collectorate for the last two months. In its various annexures, the Petitioners also drew attention of the Court that about 200 acres of land belonging to BARC have also been declared Forest. ESIS Hospital of Mulund and different properties of Mumbai Municipal Corporation have also been transferred in the name of Govt. of Maharashtra and declared Forest.

About 200 acres of Film City, Dahisar, adjacent to Sanjay Gandhi Rashtriya Udyan along with about 300 acres of land between L.B.S. Road, Mulund and Sanjay Gandhi Rashtriya Udyan and 2000 acres of land between Ghodbunder Road, Thane and Sanjay Gandhi Rashtriya Udyan have been transferred to Govt. of Maharashtra and declared Forest.

These 5 lakh residents should not be punished for illogical action of the State Govt. He further said that in spite of repeated request and follow up, Govt. authorities and various Dept. officials have not made available to them final notification of the declaration of Forest of these pieces of land in 1957.

It is horrible that the Government has insisted that thousands of establishments, residences, hospitals that are living for 60 years are declared illegal. BJP leader, Dr. Kirit Somaiya, ex Member of Parliament, has expressed concern and demand that Government should review their position. Dr. Somaiya also demanded that all the innocent residents, who were bonafide buyers, must be protected. Dr. Somaiya will approach the Legislature and Parliament so as to protect lakhs of innocent Mumbaikars.