Maharashtra Govt. Orders Probe Into JSW Steel’s Alleged Mangrove Destruction.

Maharashtra Orders 15-Day Probe into JSW Steel’s Alleged Mangrove Destruction

• Sprouts SIT-Uncovered Violations Prompt State Action

• JSW Group Accused of Illegally Clearing Reserved Forest Land Since 2009

• Previous Forest Dept Report from 2019 Also Flagged Illegal Activity

The Maharashtra government has launched a 15-day probe into JSW Steel after allegations surfaced of mangrove destruction on reserved forest land in Alibag. The action follows a complaint by activist Sanjay Gangaram Sawant, a Sprouts SIT member, who first uncovered the violations. Investigations suggest the company cleared mangroves since 2009, despite court orders and CRZ rules. A 2019 Forest Department report had also flagged illegal activity, raising questions about repeated oversight failures.

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Maharashtra Govt Orders Probe Into JSW Steel’s Alleged Mangrove Destruction & CRZ Violations in Alibag

The Maharashtra Environment Department has directed a high-level probe into serious allegations of unauthorized construction and mangrove destruction on reserved forest land by JSW Steel in Alibag. Acting on a complaint investigated by the Sprouts News Investigation Team (SIT), the state has ordered the Raigad District Collector to investigate and submit a detailed report within 15 days, potentially triggering major legal repercussions for the industrial giant.

The Core Allegations: Unauthorized Use of Reserved Forest Land

The complaint, filed by activist Sanjay Gangaram Sawant, alleges that JSW Steel illegally occupied 1.84 hectares of government-reserved forest land in survey no. 50/D of Shahabaj Gram Panchayat. It is accused of clearing vital mangrove forests (kandalvan) and using the area for non-forest industrial purposes since 2009 without requisite permissions. This action, as per the Sprouts News Investigation Team’s findings, directly contravenes the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 1991, and represents a significant breach of environmental protocols.

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Related Article: JSW Booked for Mangrove Destruction: Shocking FIR Revealed.

JSW Group: Legal Precedents and the High Court’s Stance on Mangroves

The case draws its strength from a series of landmark orders from the Bombay High Court. Orders dated October 6, 2005, and January 27, 2010, explicitly prohibited the destruction of mangroves and mandated a 50-meter construction-free buffer zone around them. A subsequent order on September 17, 2018, reinforced this protection, requiring court approval for any project affecting these ecologically sensitive zones. The current allegations against JSW Steel suggest a blatant violation of these judicial mandates, raising questions about enforcement.

Government Springs into Action, Demands 15-Day Report

Acknowledging the gravity of the claims, the Principal Secretary of the Environment Department has initiated a swift response. The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) has issued formal directives to the Raigad District Collector. The orders mandate an immediate site verification to ascertain if JSW Steel violated the CRZ norms and High Court orders for project expansion. If violations are confirmed, the Collector is instructed to take necessary action and submit a comprehensive report to the MCZMA within a strict 15-day deadline.

Historical Reports and a Pattern of Violations?

Adding credibility to the complaint, a report from the Assistant Forest Conservator (Alibag) dated November 13, 2019, was cited. This report, submitted to the Raigad District Collector, had already flagged the unauthorized non-forest activity and land filling on the said plot. The new probe will re-examine these past findings to determine the extent of the violations and the potential need for demolishing any unauthorized structures, as per Supreme Court and High Court directives on protecting reserved forest land.

This investigation, prompted by citizen activism and followed up by Sprouts News SIT, places JSW Steel under the scanner for alleged environmental damage. The state government’s urgent directive underscores the seriousness of the accusations. The Raigad Collector’s findings, due in two weeks, will be crucial in determining whether the industrial major faces punitive action for the alleged destruction of protected mangrove ecosystems and illegal encroachment.