Pune Forest Department to Conduct Survey of Reserved Land Following Supreme Court Directive
Pune, 16th October 2025: In line with a Supreme Court order, the Pune Forest Department will launch a detailed field survey starting October 15 to identify reserved forest land currently under the Revenue Department and check if any portions have been diverted for non-forestry purposes. The survey is scheduled to last a month, concluding by November 15.
This initiative follows the Supreme Court’s May 2025 directive, which instructed all states to form Special Investigation Teams (SITs) to safeguard the integrity of forest lands. Under Maharashtra’s three-tier monitoring system, a state-level committee led by the Chief Secretary will supervise overall progress, while district-level SITs, headed by district Collectors, will be responsible for identifying and verifying disputed land parcels.
Officials in Pune stated that approximately 14,000 hectares of reserved forest land are still under the control of the Revenue Department, with certain areas reportedly used for non-forest activities. The survey’s outcomes will guide authorities on restoration actions or compensation measures, reinforcing ecological protection and promoting sustainable management of forest resources in line with the Supreme Court’s mandate.
