Law prevails; bungalows of the mighty face axe

These are a few of the numerous cases in which authorities have detected irregularities in the transfer of tribal land to non-tribals in Yeoor village over the last two decades. The village is surrounded by the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP),but falls under the jurisdiction of the TMC.

After the demolition of 19 bungalows since February,the TMC on Thursday issued showcause notices to more than 40 illegally-built structures in Yeoor. “We should soon start the demolition,” said B G Pawar,deputy municipal commissioner (encroachment),referring to the illegal bungalows,some of which belong to local political heavyweights.

According to Pawar,this mini hill station has 176 structures,including bungalows,hotels and small apartments,of which 16 were demolished this year. Of them,only 66 (40 bungalows and 22 other constructions) had the TMC approval. The rest were allegedly illegal and the TMC has already ordered a survey to verify this. Now,even the state forest department has issued notices in over 35 cases for violating forest laws.

The entire demolition process throws light on how bungalows were built in these misty and picturesque hills by taking advantage of the poor and illiterate tribals,some residents alleged,adding that action was hardly taken against the rich and powerful who own the properties. The Thane collector had,in January 2008,given a list of 19 structures to the TMC,asking them to demolish them but no action was taken.

It was only after Chandrakant Jadhav,a tribal,filed a PIL in the Bombay High court in February that the TMC took action. He demanded that a piece of land,which once belonged to a tribal but was now occupied by a non-tribal,be given back to the tribal,In response,the court asked the TMC and Thane collector to furnish a list of people having bungalows in Yeoor.

Villagers say the construction of bungalows on tribal land started in the late 80s. In many cases,land transfer was not done owing to the Maharashtra Restoration to Scheduled Tribes Act 1964,but the possession of land was with non-tribals. But what followed after possession of land was the destruction of the habitat in the surrounding forest. Along with it came parties,loud music and narcotic substances.

“It would be wrong to say tribal people in Yeoor were exploited. They were paid money. Why are we blamed for their misery?” said a local politician whose bungalow was among those demolished.

The tribals are,however,yet to receive their land. “We have handed over the land to the Thane district collector after the demolition,” said Pawar. The tribals are also confused about using the land. “We do not know what is to be done with the land as the concrete structures were erected on our fertile lands. Neither can we do farming nor have enough money to build a house there,” said Parshuram Hindole,whose land was given to a politician for building a bungalow.