The project, aimed at easing pressure on the twin hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani while tapping the region’s tourism potential, covers villages across Mahabaleshwar, Jaoli, Satara and Patan talukas
Kolhapur: Nearly 45% of the 529 villages proposed under the ambitious New Mahabaleshwar Hill Station project fall within Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) of Western Ghats, raising concerns among environmentalists over the scale and nature of planned development. In the first phase, a development plan (DP) has been prepared for 229 villages by Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and is currently awaiting state govt’s final approval after incorporating suggestions and objections. The second phase will cover another 300 villages, taking the total to 529. Environmental experts claimed that 237 of these villages fell under ESA identified in the seventh draft notification for Western Ghats. MSRDC, which has been appointed as both the planning and implementing authority for the project, has received 34 development proposals so far, including 11 commercial projects and several layout proposals. In Sept 2025, MSRDC board approved 126 modifications to the draft DP before submitting it to state govt. Official documents showed the changes included rezoning of land for residential, tourism and commercial use, relocation of public amenities like markets, community halls, dispensaries and bus stops, and proposals for new 9-metre and 15-metre-wide roads and bridges.
Development permissions have been sought for certain developable areas, while approvals from agencies such as the forest department will be obtained wherever required,” Sunil Marale, chief planner and director, MSRDC, told TOI . He said the focus was on developing nature trails, naturopathy centres and road infrastructure to benefit both residents and tourists. We are not opposed to development, but it must be limited and environmentally sustainable,” he said.
The project, aimed at easing pressure on the twin hill stations of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani while tapping the region’s tourism potential, covers villages across Mahabaleshwar, Jaoli, Satara and Patan talukas. They also alleged that several agricultural zones had been reclassified as residential zones, while some residential areas had been earmarked for commercial use. “The detailed project report for the first-phase villages has been submitted after the public consultation process. Environmentalist Madhukar Bachulkar questioned the pace of the project, alleging that it was being advanced without mandatory clearances from Centre. “We struggled for years to secure Unesco recognition for the Kas Plateau and to protect the Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary.
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Satara-based activist Sushant More said opposition from residents had already prompted the forest department to withhold permissions for some activities proposed around Koyna backwaters. If development activities are cleared in ecologically sensitive villages, we are prepared to approach National Green Tribunal ,” More said. “Wealthy investors have begun purchasing large tracts of land in the region. Download the TOI App.