Greens worried over how biodiversity here is being wiped out for commercial development to attract urban folks

MUMBAI: A few sights that are now easily noticed in rural parts of Karjat taluka, about 70 km from Mumbai, are JCBs flattening the land, hacked trees, runover dead snakes on the road, and several hoardings advertising about new holiday resorts or fancy ‘forest homes’ costing anything from Rs 80 lakh to Rs 2 crore. Karjat is being dubbed as a ‘resort king’ as more and more commercial resorts are being developed in what used to be a green, forested agrarian region around two decades ago.

Many environmentalists have expressed worry and concern over how the green biodiversity of Karjat is being slowing erased for the commercial development; to attract urban folks here. “The agricultural land plots, and even green forested zones are being sold by local villagers to develop commercial weekend resorts in Karjat taluka. Even the NA (non-agricultural) conversion status is easily acquired. This obviously requires a well-oiled system at work, and also leads to a lot of tree cutting. This is just bad news for the dependent biodiversity of Karjat,” said activist B N Kumar of NatConnect Foundation, who had written to the chief minister and district collector to monitor and act on the loss of greenery in Karjat, before it is too late.

“The local nature lovers have informed how high-powered JCBs are being utilized round-the-clock to fell trees, flatten the earth and even hill slopes in order to make the land parcels more attractive for resort development. Since a few celebrities have also purchased land at high costs in Karjat, the other local villagers are automatically increasing their land value for sale. This lure of money can lead to faster destruction of the green zones,” added Kumar.

In February this year, legendary cricketer Kapil Dev purchased 16 acres of a land parcel near Kothimbe village for over Rs 8 crore. Kapil Dev had earlier also bought a 25-acre property nearby, which caused a buzz among other villagers eager to sell their lands at high value.

Earlier this year, nature lovers had also intimated district officials about purchase of nearly 130 acres of eco-sensitive land by a Mumbai-based party at Tembhare village, where yet another resort is being planned. Until recently, JCBs were seen being used to remove trees, cut rocks from the hills among other things.

When Mirror contacted Karjat tehsildar, Shital Rasal, he said he will have to inquire into the Tembhare land issue where the alleged destruction was done.

However, other taluka-level officials informed that they do not allow any development in the earmarked forest areas since the state forest department is in charge of those parts.

Environmentalist Debi Goenka of Conservation Action Trust said: “If the mushrooming of private resorts and housing constructions continue like this, very soon Karjat will become like ‘posh’ celebrity-filled Alibag. Only the who’s who will be there, but no one cares for the wildlife and the trees.” RTI activist Anarjit Chauhan who has also been regularly visiting Karjat taluka said: “Around a year-and-half ago, there was a controversy over encroachment of forest land around Dahivali village in Karjat.

This matter is still ongoing as some nature lovers are still disturbed about the green destruction, and want to lodge fresh complaints with the range forest officer. Also, since most of Karjat is a hilly region, which includes Neral, the foothill entry point to Matheran, the state government must take special care of the environment here.

This is an eco-sensitive zone, and so the government should not allow easy conversion of agriculture land to NA plots.”Chauhan added: “Revenue and forest officials should do strict monitoring of various areas to see that eco-destruction is fully stopped.

In some tribal hamlets close to Ambivali, some agents are also stealing earth by the truckloads and taking it away to different locations for commercial profit. Such thieves of the local environment must be identified and punished.” He also agreed that several snake species in Karjat are becoming roadkill as more motor vehicles enter rural parts and run over wildlife.

Recently, over 300 acres of green zone in the taluka was advertised for selling over 100 housing units in a gated complex. A developer from Navi Mumbai and Raigad who is senior vice-president of Maharashtra Chamber of Housing Industry (MCHI], Navi Mumbai, Manohar Shroff, told Mirror: “While I agree that real estate business is increasing in Karjat region, the legally forest areas are not being touched, as that can lead to legal issues.

Only land plots which get NA status are being developed. However, this does lead to cutting of many trees which exist on such land parcels.” All in all, nature lovers stressed on this point: “Realtors are attracted to the natural, forested beauty of Karjat. So, if this natural greenery is destroyed, Karjat will no longer be a unique green zone. The government must ponder and act on this quickly.”

Time of India: News Credit: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/king-of-resorts-karjat-plays-havoc-with-nature/articleshow/111726426.cms

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