Aarey: Saved from car-shed, gobbled up by encroachers

Representative image.

The state may have moved in the right direction by declaring 812 acres from Aarey Milk Colony as forest, but encroachers seem to be determined to make inroads into the green zone. A nature lover recently came across one such attempt to clear land at Aarey by burning down bushes. While he doused the fire, he found sticks and tarpaulin sheets that are used to erect hutments. On Sunday, Imran Udat and two of his friends were near Unit 15 inside Aarey when they saw smoke rising from a forested patch close to a hillock.

Officials removed the banners but could not demolish the huts as the land is under the jurisdiction of Aarey CEO's office

"Stretches of the forest have started drying. The forest floor is littered with dry leaves and twigs and they can easily catch fire. We did not want the fire to spread further. We ran towards the hillock and began dousing the fire," said Udat.

The nature lover said they soon realised that two men were hiding in the vicinity. "When we asked them about the fire, they said they started it accidentally. The two then ran away. We found bamboo sticks, tarpaulin sheets and mattresses near the spot. It's evident that they wanted to clear the area to set up huts," said Udat.

Another nature lover, who didn't wish to be named, said such attempts are increasing in the areas under the jurisdiction of Aarey CEO's office. "This is a major concern and if timely action is not taken, more land will be encroached." Forest officials said they have started patrolling many spots to stop encroachments and have begun taking action against land grabbers.

The nature lover douses the fire towards the hillock that was started by encroachers

Recently, forest officials came across a few huts where banners had been put up saying it had been done by volunteers from ‘Majhi Vasundhara Abhiyan', an initiative under the state's department of environment and climate change. Sources from the department said officials removed the banners but could not demolish the huts as they had been on the land under the jurisdiction of the Aarey CEO's office.

A forest department official said, "Our team is doing patrolling in the area and strict action will be taken against those who are found doing any illegal activity." "I will take reports and action too," said Ravindra Pawar, Aarey CEO.

Feb 12
Date when the fire was lit