Pune: Forest Rights Act Claims Rejected, Illegal Encroachment Removed in Ambegaon

Pune, 13th February 2026: The Forest Department on Wednesday removed temporary huts erected in a reserved forest area at Kathapur Budruk in Ambegaon taluka after an alleged attempt to encroach on government forest land.

According to officials, the incident took place under the Manchar Range of the . Certain individuals reportedly trespassed into the reserved forest area on Wednesday afternoon and put up temporary structures in an attempt to claim the land.

On receiving information, a team from the division reached the spot and initiated discussions with those present, advising them to voluntarily dismantle the huts. When they failed to comply, the Forest Department removed the structures and initiated action under the provisions of the .

Officials said that groceries, utensils, food grains and other materials brought to the site were returned to the individuals, who were then escorted outside the reserved forest boundary.

Assistant Conservator of Forests, Junnar, Amrut Shinde, stated that the individuals were unable to produce documentary proof establishing possession of the forest land prior to December 13, 2005, as required under the . He added that their claims had already been rejected by the Village-Level Forest Rights Committee, the Sub-Divisional Level Committee and the District Level Committee chaired by the District Collector, Pune, in accordance with the Act.

Shinde further said that in earlier instances involving the same individuals, forest offence cases had been registered for encroachment on reserved forest land. The had declared the encroachment illegal and convicted the accused in those cases. At present, the individuals have approached the in New Delhi, and the matter is pending final decision.

Forest officials reiterated that unauthorized entry and encroachment in reserved forest areas is a cognizable and non-bailable offence under the Indian Forest Act, 1927, punishable with imprisonment.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of Ashish Thakare, Conservator of Forests, Pune Forest Circle, and Prashant Khade, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junnar. The team included Lokesh Patil, Probationary DCF; Amrut Shinde and Smita Rajhans, Assistant Conservators of Forests, Junnar; Range Forest Officers Vikas Bhosale (Manchar), Pradeep Chavan and Chaitanya Kamble; Forester Nilam Chavan; Forest Guard Pooja Kamble; along with other officers and staff of the Junnar Forest Division.

Former Sarpanch Ashok Karande, former Deputy Sarpanch Vishal Karande, Police Patil Amol Karande and local villagers were present during the action.