Maharashtra Govt Clears 4.76-Hectare Forest Land Diversion for Tourism Project in Pune’s Maval
Pune, 23rd April 2026: In a major development for regional tourism, the Government of Maharashtra has officially approved the diversion of 4.7606 hectares of restored private forest land in Pune district for a commercial eco-tourism project.
According to a Government Order issued by the Revenue and Forest Department on April 15, 2026, the land is located at Village Apti in Maval Taluka, Pune. The parcel has been allocated to Mumbai-based Valley Venture LLP, represented by authorized signatory Malav Kakad.
The clearance paves the way for the construction of “non-forest activities,” which include premium ‘Forest Villas,’ tourist suites, a health club, restaurants, and swimming pools.
The state government’s final directive follows a lengthy clearance process. The Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) in Nagpur had previously granted ‘in-principle’ approval in July 2024, followed by a ‘final approval’ in May 2025, after assessing the project’s compliance with environmental guidelines.
While the total diverted area spans 4.7606 hectares under Survey/Gut No. 203, the official schedule dictates a strict spatial breakdown to minimize ecological impact.
Only a fraction of the land is earmarked for heavy construction. Approximately 0.34 hectares will be utilized for the Forest Villas and tourist suites, while other minor portions will be dedicated to internal roads, pathways, a water recharge area, and an electrical transformer. Crucially, the largest chunk of the diverted land—3.8246 hectares—must remain as untouched forest area, open space, and natural tree growth.
The clearance order, signed digitally by Sanjay Jadhav, Under Secretary to the Government of Maharashtra, comes with a stringent set of compliances governed by the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Adhiniyam, 1980.
The Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune, has been instructed to ensure all preconditions are met before physically handing over the land to Valley Venture LLP. Furthermore, the developer is mandated to provide unhindered access to local forest officers for routine monitoring. The order warns that any creation of hindrances for inspecting officials, or non-compliance with the MoEF&CC guidelines, will result in the immediate withdrawal of the diversion permission.
In a push for public transparency, the state has also directed Valley Venture LLP to publish the clearance order verbatim—including the land survey details, area, and imposed safeguards—in two widely circulated daily newspapers, one in English and one in the local vernacular language. Additionally, local Panchayats and Municipal Bodies are required to display the order on their notice boards for 30 days to inform the general public.
The official order (No. FLD-1923/CR-316/F-10) is currently available for public viewing on the official website of the Government of Maharashtra.
