The move comes amid a surge in complaints reaching the collector’s office regarding illegal constructions across the twin hill stations
The Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani region was notified as ESZ in 2001. In March this year, authorities issued notices to developers linked to 270 alleged illegal constructions, directing them to remove the structures within seven days. “Tehsildars and SDOs earlier exercised land-related powers under the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code, 1966. Amendments introduced in 2025, however, effectively curtailed those powers in the hill stations. To strengthen enforcement, authorities have now invoked provisions of the MRTP Act, authorising tehsildars to take action under sections 52 to 57, which deal with unauthorised development and enforcement measures,” the collector’s order stated. “I have been fighting against illegal constructions for the last 30 years, but hardly any major illegal structure has been demolished, nor have authorities succeeded in preventing fresh violations.
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Officials said the process often led to significant delays, allowing violations to continue unchecked. This will ensure both cohesive development and prompt enforcement wherever required,” the collector’s office said in a statement. Welcoming the decision but expressing scepticism over its effectiveness, veteran environmental activist Balasaheb Panchal said illegal constructions had flourished in the hill stations despite decades of complaints and litigation. They are fully aware of the ground situation,” Panchal said. “Authorities have also struggled to remove encroachments and constructions on govt land, with building regulations routinely flouted,” the activist added.
Kolhapur: Satara collector Santosh Patil has delegated powers to the Mahabaleshwar tehsildar to identify unauthorised structures and initiate demolition proceedings in a bid to speed up action against illegal constructions in the eco-sensitive hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani. The move comes amid a surge in complaints reaching the collector’s office regarding illegal constructions across the twin hill stations, both located within the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ). Till now, complaints were routed through the district administration, with the collector appointing a sub-divisional officer (SDO) to conduct inquiries. “There is a need for timely action against illegal constructions. To facilitate this, the tehsildar has been empowered to initiate proceedings under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act. No substantial follow-up action was, however, taken. Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani were governed differently under the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Regional Planning Scheme, which limited their role in such matters While tehsildars across Satara district already have powers to act against illegal constructions. Local officials like talathis and circle officers must be held accountable and suspended if illegal constructions come up in their jurisdictions. He alleged that large-scale concrete development had spread across hill slopes, much of it unauthorised, while rampant tree felling continued unchecked. Download the TOI App.