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The Maharashtra government has announced that slums established on government forest land before January 1, 2011, will be protected through a rehabilitation policy rather than eviction, subject to legal approvals. Forest Minister Ganesh Naik informed the Legislative Assembly that the state would seek necessary permissions from the judiciary and the Centre wherever required. The proposal aims to address long-standing housing issues affecting eligible occupants while ensuring compliance with forest conservation laws and applicable rehabilitation frameworks.
The Maharashtra government has said that slums established on government forest land before January 1, 2011, will be protected through a rehabilitation policy, with the state planning to secure the legal approvals required for implementation. Forest Minister Ganesh Naik made the announcement in the Legislative Assembly while responding to issues concerning settlements on forest land across the state. The policy would apply to eligible pre-2011 slum occupants and would be implemented in accordance with judicial directions and statutory requirements.
The minister stated that the government would approach the appropriate judicial authorities and, where necessary, seek approvals from the Central Government to facilitate rehabilitation of eligible residents occupying government forest land. He indicated that the objective was to provide relief to long-standing occupants without compromising the legal framework governing forest land and environmental protection.
The proposed approach focuses on protecting slums that existed before the cut-off date of January 1, 2011, which is widely used for determining eligibility under Maharashtra's slum rehabilitation framework. Any rehabilitation measures would remain subject to the provisions of applicable forest and environmental laws, as well as directions issued by the courts. The government acknowledged that implementation would require statutory clearances before redevelopment or rehabilitation activities could proceed.
The announcement comes amid continuing discussions over settlements located on forest land in several parts of Maharashtra, particularly in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where thousands of households occupy notified forest areas. Previous deliberations have examined the possibility of rehabilitating eligible residents while retaining or restoring the remaining portions of forest land, subject to judicial approval.
The minister indicated that the government was committed to balancing housing requirements with environmental safeguards. He said rehabilitation would be pursued only after obtaining the permissions mandated under existing legal provisions. The administration would follow the prescribed process for securing approvals before implementing any policy affecting government forest land.
The issue carries significance for urban development and housing policy, as large informal settlements continue to exist on government-owned forest land in several districts. Any rehabilitation programme will require coordination between the state government, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, forest authorities and the judiciary. The government's statement indicates that the focus will remain on protecting eligible pre-2011 occupants while ensuring that future action complies with the legal framework governing forest land, rehabilitation and environmental conservation.
Source: PTI
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