The State Govt. is a liar.  After issuing instruction in early 2006 declaring developed complexes as Forest , transferring the ownership in the name of the Govt., now Maharashtra Govt. is playing another drama to protect 5 lakh residents.  In all, more than 150 survey numbers belong to Mulund, Nahur, Malad, Poisar, Kanheri, Magathane, Borivali, Dahisar, Ghodbunder, Kashi, Kavesar, Kolshet, Majiwade, Mira, Yeoor, Pachpakhadi, Manpada of Thane Dist. and Mandale, Mahul of Chembur.  Dr. Kirit Somaiya, BJP leader, has strongly condemned the double game, “banwa-banwi” of the Govt. authorities.  Dr. Somaiya said that the State Govt. is in full knowledge of impact and effect of its affidavit, arguments in the Court that “forest land ownership should be transferred to the State Govt.  All non-forest activities should be stopped immediately”.  

It is the State Govt. which has changed the land records in 2006 and declared hundreds of housing societies, residential complexes, hospitals as Forest .  The Forest Dept. of Maharashtra Govt. was sleeping for 50 years from 1956 to 2006.  It is the Revenue, Forest and Urban Ministries of Govt. of Maharashtra which has allotted land of Mulund, Ghodbunder, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad, has publicly shown as developed land, for 50 years allowed the builders, developers and land owners to develop and sell residential premises to innocent, honest middle class people.  

Bharatiya Janata Party once again demanded the amendment of the Maharashtra Private Forest (Acquisition) Act 1975.  Dr. Somaiya is pursuing the issue with both the State and Union authorities since December 2005.  

The statement of the State Forest Minister, Shri Pachpute, is making a joke.  Shri Pachpute has made a public statement that he has informed the Union Agriculture Minister, Shri Sharad Pawar, “we will take care of honest innocent 5 lakh citizens”.  Why the Maharashtra Govt. did not amend the Private Forest Act for 3 years?  Why they did not approach Govt. of India before starting such cruel action?  

Dr. Somaiya said, he along with the Leader of Opposition, Shri Pandurang Phundkar and Shri Gopinath Munde, has made a detailed presentation to the Chief Minister, Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh in February/March 2006.  The State Govt., in public, went on making announcement that “we will protect innocent resident / buyer”.  Simultaneously, it went on issuing circulars demanding stopping of non-forest activities, also made presentation in the Court insisting implementation of 1975 Maharashtra Forest Act, Forest Conservation Act of 1980, Reservation of Forest Act of 1925.  

Dr. Somaiya said outcome of the Petition in the Supreme Court cannot be different.  If the State Govt. goes on asking implementation of all the above 3 Forest Acts and demanding transfer of ownership in the name of the State Govt. and stopping non-forest activities, the verdict in the Supreme Court will be on the same lines as the Mumbai High Court.

BJP demanded that the State Govt. should apologise to the lakhs of innocent people and to immediately correct the whole blunder of the last 50 years and give justice to the citizens of Mulund, Ghodbunder, Borivali, Kandivali, Malad.