Grumble in the hills

Alleged purchase of over 600 acres within the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve, near the Koyna dam, by the principal GST commissioner of Gujarat raises legal, ethical and environmental concerns

- DNYANESH JATHAR

Is Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde turning a blind eye towards an alleged land grab at Zadani, some 35km from his native village Dare Tamb? The picturesque forest region in Satara district is fast becoming the epicentre of a major controversy.

Activist Sushant More, who is part of the Save Sahyadri campaign, said more than 620 acres of forest land in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve near the Koyna dam was purchased by senior Indian Revenue Service officer and principal GST commissioner of Gujarat, Chandrakant Valvi, and a group of people associated with him, in blatant violation of various laws. Sushant told THE WEEK that Valvi and his associates bought the land at throwaway prices— ₹10,000 to ₹15,000 per acre. “They misled local people by telling them that the government was going to acquire land for an upcoming project and that they would lose the land anyway, and coerced them into selling,” said Sushant.

After Shinde became chief minister, he took steps to improve tourism facilities in the region. Subsequently, many outsiders bought land in the area. Sushant paid a visit to the region to know more about the land deals. “I was told that the entire people of Zadani were resettled in Khalapur in Raigad district when the Koyna dam was built in 1962. At present, no one lives in Zadani, but the resettled families continue to own their ancestral land there,” said Sushant.

The relocated villagers in Khalapur told Sushant that they were coerced into selling their land by a few agents who told them that the government was going to acquire their land. “More than 50 landowners were tricked into selling their land by way of powers of attorney. These deals took place from 2002 to 2007. Now a resort is being constructed there and eight rooms are built already,” said Sushant. “Valvi and other owners are not allowing original landowners even to perform monthly pujas at their ancestral temple in Zadani.”