NAGPUR: The Duggipar gram panchayat in Sadak Arjuni (Gondia) has taken advantage of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, to develop a 550-metre road through the reserve forest (RF) to benefit a water park.
The said road has been developed and widened in khasra number 335, which was first declared a protected forest (PF) in 1954-55, and later RF in 1978.
The said khasra is now part of compartment number 555.
“Based on a complaint lodged on March 8, 2021 by ex-divisional forest officer (DFO) Ashok Khune, who worked in the Navegaon-Nagzira area, we have ordered an inquiry against the development of the road.
Action will be taken if violations are found.
As Khune worked in the area the complaint had to be taken seriously,” said P Kalyan Kumar, CCF, Nagpur circle.
According to Sadak Arjuni RFO RD Pachbhai, even though the road has been widened, its status is still a forest road.
Earlier, it was a three-metre bullock cart road used by locals.
It was widened to six metres in 2018, when RFO Gowardhan Rathod was at the helm.
“The said road was constructed after Duggipar gram panchayat obtained permission from then Gondia deputy conservator (DyCF) S Yuvraj under FRA,” said Rathod.
Yuvraj told TOI, “I don’t exactly remember but some permissions were given to the gram panchayat under FRA for an approach road.” “However, more than the local people, the road touches national highway (NH6) and has been developed to the advantage of the water park under the garb of FRA,” said forest officials.
Section 3(2) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 allows diversion of forest land irrespective of Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980 for facilities like roads, schools, hospital, anganwadis, fair price shops, electric lines, water supply scheme, tanks and other minor water bodies etc, but the long list of items doesn’t include a water park.
“The developed road doesn’t have any villages in between but has farmlands at the backyard of the water park.
The road ends up with a water body.
The proposal had come from the Duggipar gram panchayat and there was pressure to grant permission,” said forest officials on condition of anonymity.
However, one of the partners of the water park, Ajay Lanjewar, said, “The water park is on private land.
The road was already developed when a group of people brought the park from one Hitesh Savvalakhe, Gondia.
I’m not aware of any inquiry in the matter nor have I been called for any queries.” “The road belongs to the gram panchayat and not forest.
We have no role to play in the issue as it was developed for the people from the zilla parishad funds by spending Rs9 lakh.
We also don’t use the said road,” said Lanjewar.
However, complainant Khune said, “Information under RTI Act reveals that the said road was notified as RF in 1978 and any such development would have required permission under the FCA.
It was a small road but was widened to clandestinely benefit entry of heavy vehicles to the park.” CCF Kalyan Kumar said, “The FRA clause cannot be invoked in this case as forest road cannot be developed to benefit any commercial venture.
After the report is submitted, we will see what action can be taken if violations are found.” ROAD FOR PEOPLE OR WATER PARK? * In 2018, Duggipar GP granted permission to develop a road through reserve forest which virtually benefited a water park * The road was part of the reserve forest under Sadak Arjuni range notified in 1978 * Gondia forest division grants permission under Section 3(2) of FRA which exempts gram sabhas for development of roads for people * Villagers earlier used a 3-metre road which has now been widened to 6 metres * Ex-DFO, who worked in the same area, lodged a complaint in March 2021 with CCF, Nagpur, about the violations * An inquiry has been ordered and the report will be submitted in a week