Malang Gad, also known as Haji Malang Hill, witnessed a tragic landslide that claimed one life and injured two others. In response, the forest department initiated the demolition of 90 out of over 800 illegal structures, primarily targeting commercial shops. The Peer Haj Malang Dargah Baba Trust, asserting ownership of the land, opposed the demolition, alleging political motives, and filed a case. Civil judge A S Lanjewar intervened to halt further demolition, but by then, 90 structures had already been razed. The area gained significant attention in January when Chief Minister Eknath Shinde pledged to resolve the issue. The forest department's demand for documents culminated in the demolition, which occurred under tight security measures.
Malang Gad, also known as Haji Malang Hill, recently experienced a landslide that resulted in the death of one person and injuries to two others. In response, the forest department initiated a significant demolition drive targeting illegal structures in the area.
Last week, the forest department began demolishing 90 out of over 800 illegal shops and houses near Malang Gad. This action was initially limited to commercial shops, sparing residential houses for the time being.
The Peer Haj Malang Dargah Baba Trust, which claims ownership of the land, expressed its displeasure with the demolition. The Trust argued that it had rented the space to families and shopkeepers who had been living there for many years. They suspected that the demolition was politically motivated. In response, the Trust filed a case with the Kalyan sessions court.
The court, led by civil judge A S Lanjewar, heard the case on the same evening and ruled in favour of the Trust. The judge ordered the forest department to immediately halt the demolition proceedings. However, by the time the order was issued, 90 of the 800 structures targeted had already been demolished.
In January this year, Malang Gad gained attention when Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced during a program his commitment to liberating the area. Following the recent landslide, the forest department had issued notices on June 25 to the owners of the illegal structures, demanding they provide relevant documents within three days or face demolition. When the occupants failed to furnish the required documents, the forest department proceeded with the demolition a week later, accompanied by 500 police officers and 400 forest officials for security.
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