A Goods and Services Tax ( GST ) official from Gujarat is accused in a major controversy involving the purchase of an entire village in Maharashtra, coupled with serious environmental violations.
The GST Official is accused of acquiring approximately 620 acres of land in the Kandati Valley, located in the Satara district of Maharashtra, in blatant disregard of several environmental protection laws.
The acquisition of the land violated several critical laws, including the Environment Protection Act of 1986, the Forest Protection Act of 1976, and the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. These violations have negative consequences for local biodiversity, air and water quality, and the broader environment.
Various other reports indicate that illegal constructions, including a sprawling resort on 40 acres, have been erected on the acquired land. Activities such as unapproved digging, deforestation, has lead to substantial environmental degradation. These actions have been ongoing for the past three years but still, no administrative department has detected these violations or taken corrective action.
Sushant More, the RTI Activist has called for a thorough investigation into the land dealings. More stated that villagers were not compensated for their land, contrary to Walvi’s claims of government acquisition.
The inaction of the administrative departments in detecting and addressing these violations raises is a backlash against the governance and oversight. The acquisition suggests a need for comprehensive review of the mechanisms in place to protect natural resources and ensure lawful conduct by public officials.
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