SC orders status quo on forest land case

Granting temporary relief to over one lakh flat owners in suburban Mumbai, the Supreme Court today ordered status quo in the appeals of developers who had built apartments in about 1,000 acres of  private forest lands.

The  Bombay Municipal Corporation had issued stop-work notice to the developers and they had moved the high court. It dismissed their petitions on March 25. They appealed to the Supreme Court. The bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan ordered status quo till further orders.

It is estimated that there are more than one lakh flat owners and approximately 75,000 persons who have paid for flats under construction on private forest land in the Bhandup-Mulund-Thane and Borivli-Kandivli belts. The money invested is estimated to be around Rs 25,000 crore. The construction was found to be in violation of the Forest Conservation Act as non-forest activity on private forest land is prohibited. The developers and the flat owners have reason to be relieved following today's Supreme Court order.

The issue was originally brought up in the high court by the Bombay Environmental Action Group. It then asked the government to submit revenue records of private forest land. The forest department told the corporation and all the district collectors to take action according to law. This prompted a section of leading builders to move the high court.
Some of the firms which appealed to the Supreme Court are Godrej & Boyce Ltd,  Nanabhai Jeejeebhoy Ltd, Athithi Builders and Nirmal Developers.