Nearly four months after the Supreme Court directed all states and Union Territories to form special teams to investigate whether reserved forest lands under the Revenue Department were illegally allotted to private individuals or institutions for non-forestry purposes, the Maharashtra government has constituted a three-tier investigative structure, including Special Investigation Teams (SITs) at the district level.
Each district will now have an SIT, headed by the District Collector, tasked with submitting its report by October 31.
These district-level SITs will be overseen by a review committee, chaired by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Head of Forest Forces). Other members of the committee include the Settlement Commissioner, Director of Land Records, and Chief Conservators of Forests. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Conservation) will serve as the Member Secretary. This committee will periodically review the functioning of the SITs and is responsible for compiling their reports into a single document to be submitted by November 15.
The compiled report will then be presented to a state-level coordination committee, chaired by the Chief Secretary. This top-tier committee will include the Additional Chief Secretaries of Forests and Revenue, with the Chief Forest Conservator (Mantralaya) as its Member Secretary.
According to the Government Resolution (GR) issued by the Forest Department on September 5, the SITs will conduct on-site verification to gather data on forest lands managed by Revenue and other departments and investigate how and for what purposes they have been allotted.
The GR follows mounting allegations of a land scam in Navi Mumbai, reportedly worth thousands of crores of rupees. Shiv Sena minister Sanjay Shirsat has been accused of favouring a particular family by approving the illegal handover of 15 acres of prime land during his tenure as the chairman of the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) in the previous government. Welcoming the government’s move, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar said, “The committee will expose the truth and the minister should be sacked.”
In its May 15 order, the Supreme Court had directed the formation of SITs “for the purpose of examining as to whether any of the reserved Forest Land in the possession of the Revenue Department has been allotted to any private individuals/institutions for any purpose other than the forestry purpose.”
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The court further stated, “The State Governments and the Union Territories are also directed to take steps to take back the possession of the land from the persons/institutions in possession of such lands and handover the same to the Forest Department. In case, it is found that taking back the possession of the land would not be in the larger public interest, the State Governments/Union Territories should recover the cost of the said land from the persons/institutions to whom they were allotted and use the said amount for the purpose of development of forests.”
The entire process is to be completed within one year, as per the Supreme Court’s directive.
Alok Deshpande is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express' Mumbai bureau, recognized for his focused and authoritative reporting on governance, politics, and the socio-economic dynamics of Maharashtra's hinterlands. His unique academic background in Geology and early work in the water sector provides a specialized layer of Expertise to his reporting on resource and environmental issues.
Expertise
Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express, Mumbai.
Core Authority: Alok provides detailed coverage of Maharashtra politics and governance, with a particular emphasis on how policies and power struggles affect the rural and semi-urban areas (the 'hinterlands').
Key Coverage Areas: His reports frequently focus on high-stakes administrative and political topics, including:
State Assembly Proceedings: In-depth reporting on the Legislative Assembly, covering ministerial statements, legislative debates, and inter-party conflict within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Policy & Finance: Coverage of state finances, including supplementary budget demands, fiscal deficits, and major government schemes (e.g., Jal Jeevan Mission, Ladki Bahin Yojana).
Rural and Social Issues: Reports on critical health issues (e.g., child deaths in districts), human-animal conflict (leopard attacks, stray dogs), and agrarian concerns (e.g., farmer suicides).
Local and Urban Governance: Covers major announcements regarding urban development (e.g., BMC's OC amnesty scheme, pagdi system push) and local body elections, including political defections and alliance splits.
Unique Credentials & Trustworthiness
Academic Specialization: Holds a Post-graduate degree in Geology. This background gives him a foundational understanding of natural resources, which directly informs his reporting on environment, water, and infrastructure projects.
Early Professional Experience: His shift to journalism came after working with an NGO focused on the water sector. This practical experience strengthens his Expertise in critical areas like water management and rural development, as evidenced by his reporting on the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Journalism Training: An alumnus of the prestigious Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai, confirming his formal training and commitment to rigorous journalistic standards.
Alok Deshpande's rare combination of scientific education, non-profit sector experience, and deep political reporting makes him a highly trusted and authoritative voice on the governance and ground realities of Maharashtra.
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