RAMNIK HOTHIBHAI FARIA Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this bunch of Writ Petitions, a similar issue with regard to inclusion of the lands of the Petitioners in wetlands arise for consideration. All these Petitions were therefore heard finally and are being decided by this common order.

(2.) For being facility of reference facts of Writ Petition No.7333 of 2023 are being referred.

(3.) The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, prepared National Weland Atlas for Maharashtra. A Division Bench of this Court on 14/10/2013 passed an order in Public Interest Litigation No.87 of 2023 directing the State Government to take a decision either to adopt the Wetland Atlas prepared by the Central Government or to prepare a brief document in respect of Wetland Atlas for the State of Maharashtra. Therefore the Urban Development Department of Government of Maharashtra issued the Circular on 18/12/2013 in which a direction was issued to the Municipal Corporations not to allow land reclamation for any form of construction in areas identified as wetlands in the National Wetlands Atlas prepared by the Central Government unless the same was permitted by this Court. The District Collector on 22/8/2016 prepared a brief document identifying the wetlands in Palghar District.