State Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam on Thursday alleged that the builder lobby was behind the fire that broke out in the forest area near Aarey Colony on Monday.
Mr. Kadam, who conducted an inspection at the site of the blaze on Thursday morning, said, “Around 150 to 200 acres of forest land was damaged in the fire. I observed that trees were cut before the fire broke out. This needs to be investigated. I suspect the nexus between the builder lobby and the land mafia to be behind the fire. I have asked the police, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to conduct a survey. A report on the incident will be prepared. We will ensure action is taken against the perpetrators of this fire.”
Vikas Kharge, secretary of the Forest Department, said it had not yet ordered an investigation since the blaze had taken place on private land and not on the department’s land.
