Restore Mahabaleshwar heritage trails: PIL

MUMBAI: Ten nature lovers from across the state have moved public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay high court (HC), seeking orders to the forest officer for Mahabaleshwar to implement the directions issued by the heritage committee of the local municipal council to carry out conservation, restoration and maintenance of the rides, trails and walking paths which are used by trekkers.

The petition has pointed out that the paths were constructed by the Britishers in 1862 and have heritage status and hence its upkeep is the responsibility of the concerned officer. The petition has also sought the appointment of a committee that includes local NGO’S and nature lovers to oversee and supervise the restoration work and ensure that it is properly implemented in a timely manner.

The petition filed through advocate Ajinkya Udane has referred to a letter written by the petitioners in 2019 to the Forest Department regarding the deterioration of the rides, paths and trails. The letter written by senior advocate Anil Anturkar had pointed out the trails had been since 1862 and were included in the heritage status of the region and hence proper maintenance of the same along with signages should be put up.

The petition states that after receiving the letter, the forest officer had held a meeting of the petitioners and other government officials and thereafter the Heritage Committee had also convened a meeting and had confirmed that the rides and trails came under its purview and hence issued directions to the forest officer to address the issues raised by the petitioners. However, as nothing has been done after that by the concerned officers and the signages have been covered with bush and the trials and rides are in a state of disrepair, the HC should issue directions to the forest officer to implement the orders passed by the Heritage Committee.

The petition will come up for hearing before the bench of chief justice Dipankar Datta on February 7.