Click to play videoMumbai: The relief is evident in the eyes of Mumbaikars. Over 1 lakh families in Borivili, Kandivili and Vikhroli had been living under the threat of eviction, as the buildings they were living in were built on forest land, but heeding their pleas the Supreme Court has now ordered the government not to take any action, at least until August 31, 2008.
The petitioners had approached the apex court after the Bombay High Court found that the constructions violated the Forest Conservation Act.
The Forest Department had identified certain areas in Mulund, Thane, Borivalli and Bhandup as private forest land between 1955 and 1962. However, tthis change was not reflected in the Revenue Department records, and constructions were allowed on these lands
It was only after a petition by an NGO in 2006, that the government re-designated the areas as forest land.
Builders and residents argue that they cannot be punished for the administration's clerical error.
The Supreme Court now wants the status quo to be maintained until a solution is found and no third party rights can be created on the properties until then.
(With inputs from Ashok Bagriya in New Delhi and George Koshy in Mumbai)
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