Unauthorized commercial buildings razed in Mahabaleshwar & Panchgani

Illegal constructions are demolished by the Satara district administration in Mahabaleshwar, Panchgani, and the surrounding villages.Six or seven large buildings, primarily commercial ones, have been demolished with heavy machinery over the last few days.The nearby villages and hill stations are located in environmentally sensitive areas. There are construction restrictions in place in accordance with the Forest Act. Nonetheless, a large number of illicit structures have emerged over several decades. An analogous action had been taken by the district administration in October of last year. Developers of newly constructed buildings were given notice at that time to cease work and willingly demolish the buildings. They were also threatened with consequences if they didn’t comply.According to the district collector, the area is vulnerable to natural disasters similar to those that struck Joshimath, Uttarakhand. Building on a hillside presents risks. As a result, they took the action to guarantee that no unauthorized buildings would be built in this area. They’ll wait a month for the developers to demolish the remaining unauthorized buildings, and if they don’t, they’ll file FIRS.A few months ago, Satara district chief minister Eknath Shinde requested that the administration spare illegal constructions.The majority of the developers are affluent businessmen from Mumbai and other large cities, which has angered the locals as well. They begin building after purchasing the land from the villagers.While there are some residential buildings, the majority are used for businesses, such as hotels and resorts. These villages offer beautiful scenery and a pure atmosphere, which is why many tourists who visit the hill stations choose to stay there.