JSW Steel Booked for Mangrove Destruction
• First FIR Against JSW Steel After RTI Exposé
• JSW’s Illegal Acts Land Them in Trouble
• Sprouts SIT Exposes JSW’s Environmental Crime
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts Special Investigation Team (SIT) member Sanjay Gangaram Sawant exposed JSW Steel’s illegal mangrove destruction and land encroachment in Alibag through RTI documents. Following his report, the Forest Department filed the first FIR against JSW under forest laws. The case highlights serious environmental violations by the corporate giant.
Sprouts SIT report leads to first FIR against JSW Steel
In a major breakthrough for environmental accountability, JSW Steel Ltd. has been officially booked for illegally destroying mangroves and encroaching on government land in Alibag taluka, Maharashtra. The case marks the first legal action against the company following a years-long investigation led by Sanjay Gangaram Sawant, a core member of the Sprouts Special Investigation Team (SIT).
Sawant’s investigative series, launched on November 16, 2019, exposed a web of environmental violations, including unauthorized land development, destruction of coastal mangrove ecosystems, and the evasion of crores in government royalties. Acting on his findings, the Forest Department has now registered a formal FIR (Crime No. E-2/2019-20, dated February 3, 2020) under the Indian Forest Act, 1927 and Forest Conservation Act, 1980 against JSW.
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Contents
JSW Steel Booked for Mangrove Destruction• First FIR Against JSW Steel After RTI Exposé• JSW’s Illegal Acts Land Them in Trouble• Sprouts SIT Exposes JSW’s Environmental CrimeSprouts SIT report leads to first FIR against JSW SteelClick Here To Download the News AttachmentRTI Revelations Trigger Forest Department CrackdownJSW Under Scanner for Violating Forest and Coastal LawsRevenue Department Also Urged to ActAlso Read: ₹5,000 Cr Tender Twist Exposed: Social Justice Tenders Rigged.Related Article: JSW’s Coke Oven Expansion in Pen Triggers Fierce Local Outcry.SIT Calls for Wider Accountability in Industrial Land GrabsRTI exposé by Sprouts SIT leads to first FIR against JSW Steel for mangrove and land violations.
RTI Revelations Trigger Forest Department Crackdown
Based on documents acquired under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Sawant’s investigation revealed that JSW had illegally undertaken non-forest activities on Survey No. 50/D of Mouje Jui Bapuji, within Shahbaz Gram Panchayat, without obtaining mandatory government permissions. These activities include:
•Illegal soil filling before January 28, 2010
•Unauthorized construction of a boundary wall on November 6, 2011
•Concrete foundation for conveyor belts completed between October 1, 2017 and April 4, 2018
This development occurred prior to JSW’s official land acquisition request to the Raigad District Collector, which was filed only on July 7, 2011—a serious violation that points to willful encroachment.
JSW Under Scanner for Violating Forest and Coastal Laws
Following orders from Alibag’s Deputy Conservator of Forests, Range Forest Officer Vikas Tarse conducted a field inspection on February 3, 2020, along with revenue officials including the Shahbaz village talathi and kotwal. The inspection confirmed the destruction of mangrove areas and illegal non-forest activities on government land. Consequently, a criminal case was filed against JSW under multiple provisions of Indian forest law.
The investigation further revealed that the Forest Department had warned district authorities in prior communications dated September 15, 2018, and November 13, 2019, about the unlawful activities. Despite this, no immediate action was taken until the SIT report and RTI-based evidence forced the department’s hand.
Revenue Department Also Urged to Act
In addition to the FIR, Forest Officer Tarse has formally recommended the Revenue Department to initiate parallel criminal proceedings against JSW for unauthorized development in ecologically sensitive areas. The illegal destruction of mangroves—a protected coastal asset—is a violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules, further compounding the company’s legal troubles.
Sanjay Gangaram Sawant commended Officer Tarse for upholding his official duty without succumbing to political or corporate pressure, calling him a model of administrative integrity. “His unbiased action sends a strong message that even corporate giants like JSW are not above the law,” Sawant said.
Also Read: ₹5,000 Cr Tender Twist Exposed: Social Justice Tenders Rigged.
Related Article: JSW’s Coke Oven Expansion in Pen Triggers Fierce Local Outcry.
SIT Calls for Wider Accountability in Industrial Land Grabs
The Sprouts Special Investigation Team (SIT) emphasized that this case is just the tip of the iceberg. “Similar encroachments and environmental violations by industrial players remain unchecked across Maharashtra’s coastline,” the SIT stated. They urged the Maharashtra Forest Department and Environment Ministry to conduct a comprehensive audit of all industrial land allocations and CRZ violations in Raigad and nearby regions.
RTI exposé by Sprouts SIT leads to first FIR against JSW Steel for mangrove and land violations.
The FIR against JSW Steel is a landmark moment in the fight for environmental justice in Maharashtra. Thanks to sustained journalism and RTI-backed investigation by Sprouts SIT and Sanjay Gangaram Sawant, the wheels of justice have finally begun to turn. As regulatory pressure mounts, this case could set a precedent for holding large corporations accountable for environmental damage and illegal land use.
