OTHER DEPARTMENTS

THE FORESTS DEPARTMENT

THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, MAHARASHTRA STATE, is the head of the Forest Department, with his headquarters at Poona. The whole State is divided into six Circles for administrative purposes as shown below:―

The Chief Conservator of Forests is assisted by one Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests and one Wild Life Preservation Officer, both having headquarters at Poona. At the head of each Circle is the Conservator of Forests.

The silvicultural matters are looked after by the Silviculturist, Poona, assisted by one Assistant Silviculturist at Nagpur. The Silviculturist works under the direct guidance and control of the Chief Conservator of Forests. He conducts research into various problems of regeneration and tending of forests, their managements and other matters regarding growing and raising of forest trees and stands, etc. Similarly there is a separate branch for forest utilization manned by Forest Utilization Officer, Poona, who conducts investigations for the economical utilisation of various forest products. He also works under the direct guidance and control of the Chief Conservator of Forests, Maharashtra State, Poona. Recently a post of Forest Statistician has also been created with his headquarters at Poona. Apart from compiling all the statistical data in respect of yield, revenue and expenditure, etc., the Forest Statistician also helps the Silviculturists, the Utilization Officer and the Divisional Forest Officer, in the layout and analysis of research experiments and investigations of forest crops. The Forest Engineer with his headquarters at Nagpur looks after the work pertaining to the Forest Roads, buildings, saw mills, etc. He is assisted by two Deputy Engineers with headquarters at Poona and Nasik.

The Conservators have under them Divisional Forest Officers and Sub-Divisional Forest Officers, to look after the administration; of Divisions and independent Sub-divisions, respectively. The Divisional Forest Officers belong to Maharashtra Forest Ser-vice Class I and the Sub-Divisional Forest Officers, in charge of independent Sub-Divisions, to Maharashtra Forest Service, Class II. The Divisions are in some cases divided into sub-divisions which are in charge of Sub-Divisional Forest Officers, who belong to Maharashtra Forest Service, Class II and unlike the Sub-Divisional Forest Officers in charge of independent Sub-divisions, they are under the control of Divisional Forest Officers. The Divisions or Sub-divisions, as the case may be are divided into small executive parts called 'Ranges' and each Range is managed by the Range Forest Officer under the control of Divisional Forest Officer or Sub-Divisional Forest Officer, as the case may be. The Range Forest Officer is a non-gazetted subordinate officer (Class III), who is usually trained at one of the Forest Colleges of India, i.e., those at DehraDun and Coimbatore. Each Range is subdivided into "Rounds" and each Round is managed by the Round Officer or Forester, who is usually trained at the Forest Classes in the State. Finally each Round is sub-divided into "Beats" and each Beat is managed by a Beat Guard.

Forests in the district.

The Kolaba district has two Forest Divisions, the main division is located at Alibag and the other, the Janjira Sub-division, at Roha. The Kolaba Forest Division has been divided into six Ranges located at Karjat, Panvel, Pen, Alibag, Nagothna and Sudhagad with 39 Rounds and 84 Beats. The Janjira Sub-division has been divided into six Ranges at Mahad, Mangaon, Roha, Mhasla, Murud and Shriwardhan with 31 Rounds and 75 Beats. In addition to above 12 Ranges, there is another Ranger-in-charge of a mobile squad established for timely and speedy detection of Forest offences.

The Government forests of Kolaba district occupy 674.88 sq. miles of reserved and protected and unclassed forests and form 23.42 per cent of the area of the district. In addition to the Government forests, there are private forests to the extent of 471.00 sq. miles spread over the whole of the district. As the forest area is very vast and as the tract hilly and rugged and is cut up by numerous creeks, nallas and rivers, the forests of Kolaba district are managed under two units, one being Kolaba Forest Division with headquarters at Alibag and other being the Janjira Sub-division with headquarters at Roha. The Kolaba Division Forests also include some area (10.20 sq. miles), situated far down the western slopes of Sahyadris in the Khed and Maval talukas of Poona district. In Janjira Sub-division also is included 3.72 sq. miles of the Dapoli, Band Tiware reserves of Ratnagiri district. The northern part covering six Ranges falls in Kolaba Forest Division, and southern part covering another six Ranges falls in Janjira Sub-Division. The Kolaba Forest Division extends over the talukas of Panvel, Karjat, Khalapur, Pen, Alibag, Sudhagad, Uran, and part of Roha, while the Janjira Sub-division extends over the talukas of Mahad, Mangaon, Poladpur, Murud, Shriwardhan, Mhasla and part of Roha. The Kolaba Forest Division and Janjira Sub-division, the headquarters of which are located at Alibag and Roha, respectively, fall under Thana Circle and are held by Divisional Forest Officer and Sub-Divisional Forest Officer, respectively. The Divisional Forest Officer, Kolaba, is assisted by one Sub-Divisional Forest Officer, with headquarters at Panvel.

The type of vegetation is mainly governed by the amount of rainfall The rainfall varies from 80" to over 200".

Composition and Condition of crops.

The major part of the forest consists of a wet to moist mixed deciduous type of tree-growth on the hill slopes and valleys, and semi-evergreen to pure evergreen types of vegetation on the tops and plateaus, particularly, on the main ridge of the Western Ghats and some of its spurs. The chief deciduous species are Teak and its usual associates like Ain (Terminalia tomentosa), Dhavda (Ano-geissus latifolia), Bondara (Lagerstroemia parviflora), Kosumb (Schleichera trijuga),' Bibla (Pterocarpus marsupiuni), Khair (Acacia catechu), Nana (Largerstroemia lanceolata), Sissum (Dal-bergia latifolia), Haldu (Adina cordifolia), Kalamb (Stephegyne parvifloria), Savar (Bombax malabaricum), Asana, (Bridelia retusa), etc. In the semi-evergreen regions Amha (Mangifera indica), Jambul (Eugenia jambolana), Asana (Bridelia retusa), Hirda (Terminalia chebula), Ain (Terminalia tometitosa), Beheda (Terminalia belerica), Kakad (Garuga pinnata), Varas (Heterophragma roxbur-ghii), Nana (Lagerstroemia lanceolata), Kumbh (Careya arborea) and Umber (Ficus glomerata) are predominating. In the evergreen region like Matheran Hill the vegetation is of the standard evergreen type, and consists mainly of Jambul (Eugenia jambolana), Anjan (Memecylon-edule), Kirmra (Glycosmis-pentaphylia), Par-jamb (Olea dioca), Male (Diospyros assimillis), Kumbal (Sideroxylon-tomentosum), Pisa (Actinodaphne hookeri), Bhoma (Glochidion ellipticum), Tupa (Caithium dicoccum), Jambha (Xylia Dolabriformis), Gela (Randia dumetorum), Amba (Mangi-fera iudica), Ranphanas (Artocarpus hirsuta), Vavali (Mimusops elengi), Alu (Vangueria-spinosa), Kalakuda (Wrightia tincloria), Atki (Maesa indica), Asana {Bridelia retusa), Kadhi limb (Murraya Koenigi) and Kuda (Holarrhena autidysenterica). There is a fairly profuse trader-growth of Ukshi (Calycopleris florinunda), Dhayati (Woodfordia floribunda), Karavand (Carissa carandas), Nirgudi (Vitex negundo), Kewan (Helicteres isora), on the middle slopes and the lower plains while Karavi (Strobilanthes callosus), on the upper slopes and tops. The growth of climbers is also fairly luxuriant in better quality areas and consists mostly of Gulvel (Tinospora cordifolia), Kujli (Mucuna prariens), Kusar (Jasminum malabaricum), Palasvel (Butea superba), Chillar (Caesalpinia sepiaria), Gunja (Abrus precatorius), etc. Grasses like Phulgavat (Anthistiria ciliata), Kusali (Audropogon contortus), Boru (Andropogon halepensis), etc., found mostly in the regeneration areas and blanks, Bamboos which used to be quite common are now very rare and both the species (Bambuesa arundinacea and Dandracalemus strictus) are found in moister parts along the rivers and big nallas occasionally.

The deciduous trees which form the bulk of forests are also most important as they contain quite a good teak and its valuable associates mentioned above in varying proportions and qualities. The proportions and qualities of teak vary according to its situation, soil, aspects, altitude, incidence of tahal cutting, grazing and fires occurring. Similarly on poorer soil conditions teak seems to form a greater proportion but is of poor quality. In general, however, teak amounts to about 18 per cent of the whole stocking while the superior injaili species form about 35/40 per cent, and the inferior teak and injaili occurs only in the sheltered situation carrying fairly deep, rich and well drained soil mostly on middle slopes and valleys. In general, the tree-growth in Pen, Nagothna and Roha is of superior quality yielding a fair proportion of big size teak of 48"―54" girth and 40'―50' height, that in Karjat, Panvel and Alibag is of medium quality, yielding beams and poles between 3'―4' girth and 30'-40' height while that in Mahad and Mangaon Ranges is of the poorer quality yielding mostly poles below 36" and 25'―30' in height. All the factors of the locality including rainfall, soil and climate are in general quite suitable for most of these valuable species and the natural re-generation of the more valuable ones like Teak (Tectona grandis), Ain (Ter-minalia tomentosa), Dhawada (Anogeissus latifolia), Kosumb (Schlichera Trijuga), has also been fairly satisfactory. Over 50 per cent of the present stocking consists of its growth while that of seedling growth comes to about 30 per cent. But both require to be very carefully tended and protected against the inferior fast growing species, fires, tahal cutting, illicit hacking, grazing and other injurious influences.

The Matheran forests are composed of the evergreen speices of which Pisa (Actinodaphne Hookeri), Bhoma (Glochidion Ellipti-cum), Anjan (Memecylon-edule), Par Jam (Olea Dioicea), Jam-bul (Eugenia Jambolana), Amba {Mangifera indica), Kumbal (Siderosvlon tomentosum), etc., are some of the important species found on the plateau while Mango (Mangifera indica), Jambul (Eugenia Jambolana), Asana (Bridelia retusa), Umber (Picus glo-merata), Kumbhi (Carava arboriea), Varas (Heteraphragma roxbur-ghii), Nana (Lagerstroemia Lanceolata), Beheda (Terminalia belexica) etc., are found on the terraces below. The plateau forests are very dense and even congested in places and their most laxuriant growth represents the natural climatic extremes of the vegetation for this locality. They can yield mostly firewood and very little injaili timber like Anjani rafters only. The undergrowth of Karavi (Strobilanthes callosus), Dinda (Leea macro-phylla), Phangli (Pogostomon parviflorus), Karavand (Carissa carandos), Dhayati (Woodfordia floribunda), Climbers, orchids, ferns, moss and other herbs are in great abundance. Bamboos are extremely rare and only met with on the terraces. Grasses are also generally absent except on blanks, steep slopes, edges of the plateau and tops and bottoms of the cliffs. Regeneration from both coppice and seed is very good.

The Casuarina forests are of purely artificial origin and contain only one species, namely Casuarina equisetifolia. Stray plants of Babul (Acacia arabica), Ain (Terminalia tomentosa), Sandalwood (Santalum album), Kargol (Trema orientalis), Gorakh-Chinch (Adansonia digitata), etc., occur naturally in a few places while bushes of Rui (Calotropis gigantea), Ghaneri (Lantana Camara) Rantulas (Ocimum basilicum), and creepers like Martad (Ipomoea hiloba), Leddi, are seen growing rather profusely in the young plantations.

Sudhagad Forests are composed of Teak (Tectona Grandis), Ain (Terminalia Tomentosa), Dhawada (Anogeisus latifolia), Amba (Mangifera indica), Beheda (Terminalia belerica), Moha (Basia latifolia), Bondara (Lagerstroemia parviflora), Tembhurni (Diospy-rus melanoxylon), Asana (Bridelia retusa), Gela (Randia dumen tiorum), etc.

janjira Forests are composed of Teak (Tectona Grandis), Ain (Terminalia tomentosa), Kinjal (Terminalia paniculata), Ambani (Trewea nudiflora), Dhawada (Anogeissus latifolia), Shiras (Albiz-zia lebbek), Ranbhendi (Tetrameles nudijlora), Bibla (Pterocarpus marsupium), Sawar (Bombax malbaricnm), Sisum (Dalbergia latifolia), Shiwan (Goelina arborea), Hed (Adina cordifolia), Kumbhi (Careya arborea), Pangara (Erythrina indica), etc.

In all, there are three working plan divisions, viz., those at Nasik, Poona and Nagpur in Maharashtra State and this district falls under Divisional Forest Officer (Working Plans), Bombay and Nasik Circles, whose headquarters are located at Nasik. The Divisional Forest Officer (Working Plans) is responsible for the preparation of Working Plans in Bombay and Nasik Circles.

Duties of Forest officers.

The Revenue and Forest departments are closely inter-connected in their works at a number of points. Afforestation and disforestation are practically joint functions of Revenue and Forest departments, since public rights in the lands proposed for afforestation have to be settled by the Revenue Department. Working Plans for the management and development of forests are prepared solely by the Forest Department, but in so far as the prescriptions of a working plan affect local supply and the rights and privileges of the inhabitants of the tracts, it is submitted to the Government by the Chief Conservator of Forests for sanction.

The Divisional Forest Officer is directly responsible for the exploitation and regeneration of forests according to sanctioned Working Plans and other orders. He conducts sales, enters into contracts and supplies material to Government departments and the public and realises revenue and controls expenditure under instructions from the Conservator of Forests. He deals finally with forest offence cases, having power to compound the same. In short, he is responsible for forest administration and management in all matters relating to technical forest operations.

The duties of the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer, in charge of an independent Sub-division, are exactly the same as those of the Divisional Forest Officer, while the Assistant Conservator of Forests or Sub-Divisional Forest Officer, attached to a Division, assists the Divisional Forest Officer, in the work of inspection and supervision of obvious kinds of silvicultural works requiring technical knowledge, besides attending to other duties entrusted by the Divisional Forest Officer. At present there is one Sub-Divisional Forest Officer attached to Kolaba Forest Division.

The Range Forest Officer is in executive charge of his range. He is responsible for carrying out with the help of his Round Officers and Beat Guards, and according to the orders of the Divisional Forest Officer, or the Assistant Conservator or the Sub-Divisional Forest Officer, all work in his charge, such as the marking, reservation, girdling and felling of trees; the transport of timber, fuel, etc., to the sale depots; sowing, planting, tending and other silvicultural operations; construction of roads, buildings and wells according to sanctioned Plans and Estimates; protection of Forests and investigation of forest offences; supervision or removal of forest produce by purchasers and by holders of rights and privileges; and issue of forest transit passes and permits.

The Foresters' duties include protection of forests: detection and investigation of offences; issue of forest transit passes and permits; collection of revenue from permits and compensation in offences; preservation of standards (i.e., a number and kind of trees prescribed for preservation and the manner of cutting, etc.), in coupes given out to contractors for cutting; inspection and protection of forests; and guidance and supervision of forest guards.

Forest Guard's functions are to patrol and protect all forests in his beat; repair and maintain forest boundary marks; execute silvicultural works, viz., sowing, planting and creeper cutting; and detect forest offences.

Classification of forests.

Under the Indian Forest Act (XVI of 1927), forests are divided into two categories, reserved and 'protected' [The Indian Forest (Bombay Amendment) Act, 1948, was enacted in order to enable the State Government to take over the management of even private forests and regulate their use, regeneration and protection for the following purposes, namely, (a) conservation of trees and forests; (b) preservation and improvement of soil and prevention of waterlogging, erosion, etc.; (c) improvement of grazing; (d) maintenance of reservoirs or irrigation works and hydro-electric works; (g) protection against storms, winds rolling stones, floods and drought; (h) protection of roads, bridges, railways and other lines of communication and (i) preservation of public health.]. Before the forests are classified they have to be subjected to regular settlement by a Forest Settlement Officer, who enquires into the existence of public and private rights. In the case of reserved forests, the existing rights are either settled, transferred or commuted. In the case of Protected Forests, the rights are clearly recorded and regulated.

The protected forests in the district cover 90.35 sq. miles of which 52.26 sq. miles are under Forest Department and 38.09 sq. miles under the Revenue Department. The reserved Forests of the district cover 446.73 sq. miles in all. Of these 433.42 sq. miles are in charge of the Forest department and the rest 13.31 sq. miles in charge of Revenue Department.

All Reserved Forests in charge of the Forest Department are organised and managed according to the prescription of the Working Plans. Working Plan is a document which lays down the scientific management of the Forests for a prescribed number of years. Before a Working Plan is drawn up, a survey is made of a growing stock at times by actual enumeration and analysis is made from the stumps of standing trees, to determine the rate of growth of the principal species with special reference to the soil and the climatic conditions of each locality. On the basis of the data collected, plans are drawn up for felling, regeneration, silvi-cultural treatment and protection of forests, with provision for the due exercise of the rights and privileges of the people including grazing of cattle.

The Forests of Sudhagad Range (former princely State of Bhor) and those of Janjira have been merged in Kolaba District Forests in the year 1948. All the forests have been declared as Reserved Forests during State regime and they are being regulated under Indian Forest Act. They have already been notified under Section 4 of the Indian Forest Act and the Forest Settlement Officer, who was appointed by Government to investigate into the rights, etc., of the people, has submitted his final report to Government. As soon as the Forest Settlement Report is accepted by Government and the areas are finally notified under Section 20 of the Indian Forest Act, the areas will be demarcated on the ground. As all the areas in the past, being subjected to heavy irregular fellings, the Forest department has drawn special Working Plans and Schemes for giving suitable treatments to these areas.

Functions of the Forest Department.

The main functions of the Forest Department are exploitation, regeneration and the protection or forests according to sanctioned working plans and other orders, and the conduct of sales, entering into the contracts and the supply of material to Government departments and the public. The salient aspects of the functions are described below:-

(1) Regeneration and maintenance.

Regeneration and maintenance―As the area is cut and tree-gowth is removed, it is regenerated with fresh crop. The principal duty of a Forest Officer is the protection of the  Forests in his charge. Great care and precaution is required against damages by men, animals, and insects and other pests and against adverse climatic influences and other inanimate agencies. Damage by man is caused by: (1) lighting of fires, (2) encroach ments, (3) faulty exploitation methods, including illicit cuttings and (4) misuse of forest rights and privileges. Though occasionally forest fires may originate from natural causes, in the vast majority of cases they are due to human actions, either with in or without the forest. The most frequent cause is carelessness or recklessness and some time illegal hunting but occasionally there is incendiarism. To prevent damage by fire, the wholehearted support and co-operation of public is required. This co-operation is secured through the authority and influence of village head man. Precautionary measures like fire-tracing and early burning are also taken by the Department in good time against accidental fires. Clearing of shrubby growth along roads and paths is also done to avert any fire spreading in the forests. Rigid patrolling and vigilant watch against unauthorised felling and removal of forest produce by the villagers are resorted to. Offenders in respect of unauthorised grazing and other damage from cattle are dealt with severely under the Forest Act and other laws.

System of Management.

(2) System of management―The area under the management of the Department in the district is worked under the various silvicultural systems such as clear felling with reserves, selection-cum-improvement felling, simple coppice, coppice with standard, etc. Nearly, 1/3 of the area worked is regenerated by preparing rabs of 66'x66' in the felled coupes. Regeneration work is carried out in two ways, viz., (1) mainly natural (coppice) and (2) mainly artificial. Under the coppice system trees are allowed to be cut at ground level or near it, and regeneration takes place naturally by shoots from the stools, stump or bole when cut over. Under the artificial system, when the trees are felled, regeneration is effected by artificial methods, such as sowing, transplanting of roots, and shoot cutting, called stumps, in lines, tending young plants, etc. Cleaning, thinning and other cultural operations are undertaken by the Department in the coupes in fifth and 15th years.

Dalhi.

'Dalhi' assignments to the extent of 28,960 acres have been granted to mostly Thakurs, Dhangars and Katkaris, in the past with chief purpose of weaning them away from their nomadic life and settling them to a permanent mode of life, by providing them with a suitable means of livelihood in the form of lands for cultivation. 'Dalhi' is forest land from the Reserved Forest given to the Adiwasis for cultivation on the condition that they maintain the minimum of 20 trees per acre and also pay a nominal assessment. The 'Dalhi' plot-holders are also supposed to help in the protection and preservation of adjoining forest.

As most of these lands are situated on slopes and as there is heavy rainfall and poor soil, cultivation is limited to small bits of land capable of yielding lesser millets, like Nagli, Varai, Teel, Hulga, etc. The assignments have been granted to these people on conditions such as (1) they should help the forest staff in detecting offences, (2) protect the Forests from illicit cutting, etc., and (3) raise at least 20 trees per acre, etc. In addition to these Dalhi lands, which are spread over the whole Division, another area of 120 acres, representing various localities, has been leased for pure cultivation for raising crops. Similarly, another area of 400 acres is leased for Agri-silvi system in the district.

Exploitation

Forest Products are divided into two main classes. viz. (1) Major Forest Produce and (2) Minor Forest Produce. The Chief Major Forest Produce consists of timber, firewood and charcoal. The major portion of these is exported to Bombay, Poona and other places and the rest is consumed in the district only.

The Minor Forest Produce consists of Hirda, Shikekai, Shilar bark, Apta and Temburni leaves, Grass, Bamboos, Kadipatta, Dhayati leaves, Karavi and Gum, etc.

The Major Forest Produce is derived from annual coupes due for working each year. These are advertised for sale and sold by tenders or by public auction. The Minor Forest Produce is either farmed out or sold on permits. The annual income from the major and minor forest products realised in Kolaba district during the years 1958-59 and 1959-60 is tabulated below:―

Forest Roads.

There are no metalled roads in this Division. However, there is a "Bridle Path" of two miles and three furlongs running from Ambivali to Peth in Karjat Range.

Forest Buildings.

Some of the subordinates have been provided with residential quarters. There is one Forest House at Roha. It is proposed to build some more Rest Houses and residential quarters for subordinates.

Vanamahotsava.

The Government inaugurated in 1949 the tree planting festival called "VANAMAHOTSAVA" to be celebrated in a suitable month during the monsoon each year. The object is to make the people tree-minded and to encourage the planting of as many trees as possible in suitable places. In choosing the trees for planting, preference is given to fast growing and economically valuable species. Free supply of seedlings of the species is made by the Forest department to the public and to Government departments and institutions, schools and colleges. To supply these seedlings Wet Nurseries are located at suitable places throughout the district. The District Development Board is expected to attend to the aftercare of the young plants which is to be entrusted as far as possible to the villagers. Villagers Production Committees which are the Committees set up for encouraging growth of more food crops are to be responsible for the successful observance of "VANAMAHOTSAVA" in the respective villages. Cultivators desirous of planting trees in the Reserved Forest Area or on the Road Side lands belonging to the Government are given "SANADS" enabling them to take the fruits of trees planted by them.

Illicit cuttings and unauthorised removal of forest products.

There were 1,914 cases of these types during the year 1958-59 and 1,383 cases during the year 1959-60. A mobile squad has been organised to detect and prevent such cases by effecting: patrolling in areas where heavy illicit cuttings are rampant. This has helped considerably in recovering the stolen material and in checking illicit traffic of firewood and timber. There is apparently no need for the villagers and local people to indulge in such offences as the legitimate and bona-fide requirements are invariably met with in the form of forest privileges and concessions. Obviously the people commit these offences for the sale of the material in majority of the cases, which is most undesirable. To combat the menace of illicit cutting by the local people and petty contractors, Check-posts, called Nakas were opened at various important places during 1959-60 to check the Forest Produce in transit The presence of numerous creeks renders checking of illicit material rather difficult. However, motorised dinghys are being purchased for patrolling the creeks. Also, a party of two armed constables has been posted at Nigda Creek in Nagothna Range.

Wild Life and Game Management.

The preservation and management of wild life in the State is done under the Bombay Wild Animals and Wild Birds Protection Act, 1951, and the rules made thereunder. The Act in itself is a pioneering legislative enactment in the field of Wild Life Preservation and Management and has given lead to other States in this respect. There is also the State Wild Life Advisory Board, which considers and examines various problems of Wild Life Preservation and management and makes suitable recommendation to the State Government from time to time. Every year Wild Life Week is observed throughout the district by holding meetings and giving lectures to the villagers impressing on their minds the necessity and importance of Wild Life Preservation.

Control over Private Forest under section 35 of I. F. A.

This district is abundant in Private Forests which are 470 sq. miles in extent and spread over the entire district. As they have been subjected to heavy and repeated fellings, the Government have decided to bring all suitable Private Forests under Section 35 of Indian Forest Act, 1927. Notices under Section 35 (3) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, to the Private Forest owners are issued. The Forest Department is exploring possibilities of acquiring all such Private Forests with a view to putting a stop to the heavy destruction of the forests. In the Kolaba Forest Division alone, 3,454 notices have been issued to the owners of the Private Forests. In Janjira Sub-Division also, the work of issuing notices under Section 35 (3) of the Indian Forest Act is in progress and up-till now notices have been issued to various owners of 192.24 sq. miles.

The forests of this district have been burdened with Khoti Forest Rights and they are 93.74 sq. miles in extent spread over Karjat, Pen, Roha, Mahad and Mangaon talukas. The Government have abolished the Khoti Rights from May 15, 1950. The Khots are to be paid compensation in lieu of their rights in the forests. The values of these forests are being worked out for paying compensation to the Khots.

Second Five-Year Plan Schemes.

In order to increase the potential value of the forests and to restock them with more economically valuable species, special plantations of Teak, Cashew, and other Injaili species have been raised during the first four years of the Plan. It is proposed to bring all available blank areas out of the Reserved and Protected Forests in charge of Revenue as well as Forest Department, under suitable plantation of species of economical importance. All these, when successfully done and maintained, will definitely increase the potential value of the forests which are of national importance. So far plantations of 2,250 acres of Cashew, 400 acres of Sewar, 210 acres of Teak and 660 acres of Injaili species have been raised in Kolaba Forest Division alone.

Rights and Privileges.

In the forests of Kolaba district, there are no recognised rights of the people other than rights of way and right to take water from water courses. In some cases, however, free grants and concessions have been made for removal of timber and bamboos, etc., for the purpose of reconstruction and repairs to burnt houses, etc., and also for the works of Public Utility under proper authority. The relations between the Forest Department and public are not always very cordial in the matter of forest protection as the occurrence of illicit cuttings which local people frequently indulge in has to be dealt with an iron hand. The Department cannot be a mute spectator to the wanton destruction of Forest wealth for trade purposes. In fact, considering the very liberal privileges granted by Government to the local people, particularly Adiwasis, there is no need for them to indulge in any such activity. But the people, nevertheless, are often found to fall prey to the temptation of illicit cutting of trees for trade purposes. In order to provide both work and profit share in the Forest works, the Department has helped in the organisation of Adivasi Forest Labourers' Co-operative Societies, in the district. In all there are thirteen societies of forest labourers in Kolaba Division alone.

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