Over 60 hectares of private forest near Karnala Fort in Uran taluka, Raigad district (Maharashtra) were cleared without prior approval from the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; the Panvel Sub‑Divisional Officer approved diversion in 2024 after a 2012 rejection, and the action is under legal scrutiny in 2026.
Legal and statutory framework
- Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 — Section 2: Prohibits de‑reserving or diversion of forest land for non‑forest purposes without prior central approval (MoEFCC).
- Scope over private land: Supreme Court in T.N. Godavarman Thirumulpad (1996) expanded “forest” to include lands with forest characteristics irrespective of ownership; such lands require central clearance.
- Local limits: State or revenue officers lack authority to permit large‑scale tree felling or excavation on forest‑classified land without central assent.
Site, scale and administrative timeline
- Location: Adjacent to Karnala Fort, Uran taluka, Raigad district, Maharashtra (Western Ghats bio‑geographic zone).
- Area cleared: Over 60 hectares of private forest land; active soil excavation reported.
- Timeline: 2012 — diversion rejected; 2024 — Panvel SDO approved diversion; 2026 — State forest department/activists report illegal clearance and seek legal action.
Biodiversity and proximity to protected area
- Karnala Bird Sanctuary: Protected area ~12.11 km²; designated Eco‑Sensitive Zone extends up to 8 km.
- Species presence: ~147 resident and 37 migratory bird species recorded; notable taxa include Malabar whistling thrush, grey hornbill, oriental dwarf kingfisher, Indian pitta and crested serpent eagle.
- Immediate impacts: Canopy loss, habitat fragmentation, terrain alteration and disturbance from heavy machinery affecting wildlife corridors.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- Central clearances: Diversion proposals under FCA follow a two‑tier clearance with MoEFCC final approval for forest land use change.
- ESZ legal basis: Eco‑Sensitive Zones are declared under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Regional ecology: Uran terrain includes coastal wetlands, mangroves and secondary moist‑deciduous patches important for groundwater recharge.