Latest news with #Borhade
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Protecting fireflies' habitat at Kalsubai-Harishchandragad top priority: NGT
PUNE: In response to an application filed earlier by a local resident, the western zone bench (Pune) of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on July 9 directed that fireflies and their fragile habitat in and around the Kalsubai-Harishchandragad wildlife sanctuary be safeguarded. The NGT disposed of the case with a clear directive that protecting the fireflies' habitat must remain a top ecological and administrative priority. In response to application filed by resident, NGT western zone bench (Pune) directed officials that fireflies habitat at Kalsubai-Harishchandragad wildlife sanctuary be safeguarded. (SOURCED) The tribunal issued the direction based on the recommendations of the forest department and Maharashtra Tourism Directorate, both of which raised ecological concerns over unregulated tourism during the fireflies' season from mid-May to mid-June every year. An enchanting festival locally known as the 'Kajawa Mahotsav' is held every year just before the monsoon, typically during the fireflies' season, in the Kalsubai-Harishchandragad wildlife sanctuary area around Bhandardara, Bari (village) and Harishchandragad. The festival is a natural spectacle where thousands of bioluminescent fireflies light up the forests and valley floors, offering glowing evenings under the forest canopy along with tribal performances, camping and trekking. Recently, the festival came under the scrutiny of the NGT when local resident Borhade filed a complaint regarding unregulated tourism causing significant threat to the local biodiversity. Borhade demanded that strict regulations be put in place for the festival. As such, during its hearing on April 17 this year, the NGT asked the forest department and Maharashtra Tourism Directorate to submit their responses on the said issue. In its detailed affidavit, the forest department highlighted the ecological importance of the wildlife sanctuary which spans over 361 square kilometres in the western ghats and includes both forest and non-forest lands. Around 40% of this area falls under private ownership or government jurisdiction. Notably, the sanctuary is home to rare flora, rich biodiversity as also the Kajawa Mahotsav that draws thousands of eco-tourists during the fireflies' season every year. At the same time, the forest department expressed concern over ecological disruptions caused by increasing footfalls, artificial lighting, noise, and vehicular movement during the fireflies' mating season. These factors threaten the delicate breeding cycle of the fireflies which are highly sensitive to environmental changes, the department said. The department also mentioned that to address these issues, several measures have been already taken such as formation of eco-development committees in 25 villages; controlled entry through check-posts at Shendi and Muthkhel; designated viewing zones; off-road parking in private fallow lands; restrictions on entry of vehicles after 9 pm and viewing of fireflies beyond 10 pm; deployment of staff and volunteers for crowd and traffic regulation; and awareness campaigns educating tourists and homestay operators about eco-friendly behaviour. The department said that despite these measures, there is need for a long-term regulatory framework; and recommended that a zonal master plan be prepared for the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) stopping activities that violate ESZ norms and imposing a moratorium on new permissions until the plan is finalised. Whereas the Maharashtra Tourism Directorate in its separate affidavit clarified that it did not organise the Kajawa Mahotsav in 2024 or 2025 following the last edition of the festival in 2023. However, the NGT noted that even without formal events, massive crowds continue to gather during the fireflies' season, underscoring the urgency for comprehensive crowd control and conservation efforts. The directorate recommended additional guidelines, including strict prohibition of drugs and firecrackers inside forest limits; mandatory identity checks and maintenance of visitor entry registers; physical barricades to prevent tourist encroachment near fireflies' habitats; and holding the Kajawa Mahotsav every alternate year instead of annually. After reviewing both the affidavits, the NGT on July 9 directed that all recommendations by the forest and tourism departments be seriously considered for implementation. The tribunal also suggested reactivating or extending the tenure of the ESZ monitoring committee, originally notified in 2017, to oversee enforcement of these measures. Expressing his view on the NGT's directive, Borhade said, 'For the past few years, the fireflies festival has been conducted without adherence to any regulations, posing a serious threat to the natural resources of the sanctuary area. I filed this petition to stress on the need for a regulatory framework and its proper enforcement. I hope the forest and tourism departments will implement this order effectively in the coming days.'
Time of India
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Justice after 25 years: Bombay HC quashes Rs 500 bribery conviction of retired govt official; lack of proof cited
File photo of the Bombay High Court. File photo of the Bombay High Court. File photo of the Bombay High Court. 1 2 MUMBAI: Twenty-five years after he was accused of accepting a Rs 500 bribe, Bombay High Court acquitted a retired government official in the case. Maruti Borhade was accused of the offence in Feb 2000 when he was 48 years old and served as an office superintendent in the directorate of sports office, Pune. In 2000, Borhade was accused of demanding and accepting a Rs 500 bribe for issuing a no objection certificate (NOC) in favour of a woman seeking a job as a physical training (PT) teacher. On Borhade's appeal in 2025, it was found that the NOC had already been issued nearly two months before the anti-corruption bureau set up a trap to catch him while accepting the bribe. Complainant Rangrao Kalmegh had claimed Borhade demanded Rs 500 to issue the NOC. Acting on the complaint, the ACB set up a trap on Feb 4, 2000, and Borhade was allegedly caught red-handed with marked currency notes in a temple premises. The trial court accepted the prosecution's case and, in 2005, convicted Borhade under sections 7 and 13 (1) (d) read with Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, sentencing him to three months' simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000. Borhade appealed the conviction. When the appeal finally came up for hearing before Justice Shivkumar Dige of Bombay High Court in 2025, it was revealed the NOC had been issued on Dec 15, 1999, nearly two months before the trap was set. This fact was corroborated by a witness, the sanctioning authority, who admitted in court the certificate had already been dispatched to relevant authorities. The complainant had also falsely claimed that the woman for whom the certificate was sought was his daughter-in-law. He also passed away during the trial, and the case proceeded without his direct testimony. There was no independent witness to corroborate the demand or exchange of bribe money. Even the investigating officer, a deputy SP from ACB, Pune, admitted under cross-examination that he had no personal knowledge of the case. The defence successfully argued a bribe for a document that had already been issued made no logical sense. "Why would anyone pay a bribe for a document that had already been issued?" Amit Munde, counsel for the appellant, argued. Assisted by advocate Jai Vohra, Munde highlighted mere recovery of bribe money is not sufficient for conviction. The law requires proof of demand and voluntary acceptance—both were missing. In his 10-page judgment, Justice Dige said the benefit of doubt must go to the accused, especially when the facts are in dispute and the prosecution's case lacks coherence.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
25 years on, retd govt official acquitted in 500 bribe case
Mumbai: Twenty-five years after he was accused of accepting a Rs 500 bribe, Bombay High Court acquitted a retired government official in the case. Maruti Borhade was accused of the offence in Feb 2000 when he was 48 years old and served as an office superintendent in the directorate of sports office, Pune. In 2000, Borhade was accused of demanding and accepting a Rs 500 bribe for issuing a no objection certificate (NOC) in favour of a woman seeking a job as a physical training (PT) teacher. On Borhade's appeal in 2025, it was found that the NOC had already been issued nearly two months before the anti-corruption bureau set up a trap to catch him while accepting the bribe. Complainant Rangrao Kalmegh had claimed Borhade demanded Rs 500 to issue the NOC. Acting on the complaint, the ACB set up a trap on Feb 4, 2000, and Borhade was allegedly caught red-handed with marked currency notes in a temple premises. The trial court accepted the prosecution's case and, in 2005, convicted Borhade under sections 7 and 13 (1) (d) read with Section 13 (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, sentencing him to three months' simple imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000. Borhade appealed the conviction. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo When the appeal finally came up for hearing before Justice Shivkumar Dige of Bombay High Court in 2025, it was revealed the NOC had been issued on Dec 15, 1999, nearly two months before the trap was set. This fact was corroborated by a witness, the sanctioning authority, who admitted in court the certificate had already been dispatched to relevant authorities. The complainant had also falsely claimed that the woman for whom the certificate was sought was his daughter-in-law. He also passed away during the trial, and the case proceeded without his direct testimony. There was no independent witness to corroborate the demand or exchange of bribe money. Even the investigating officer, a deputy SP from ACB, Pune, admitted under cross-examination that he had no personal knowledge of the case. The defence successfully argued a bribe for a document that had already been issued made no logical sense. "Why would anyone pay a bribe for a document that had already been issued?" Amit Munde, counsel for the appellant, argued. Assisted by advocate Jai Vohra, Munde highlighted mere recovery of bribe money is not sufficient for conviction. The law requires proof of demand and voluntary acceptance—both were missing. In his 10-page judgment, Justice Dige said the benefit of doubt must go to the accused, especially when the facts are in dispute and the prosecution's case lacks coherence.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Time of India
Annual festival impacts firefly population: Pune activist to NGT
1 2 Pune: The National Green Tribunal ( NGT ) has issued notices to the state forest and tourism departments seeking clarification whether the current guidelines governing the Firefly Festival (Kajwa Mahotsav) held annually between May and June were being properly implemented and were these enough to prevent ecological harm. The directives came after a petition was filed by environmentalist Ganesh Borhade. He urged the tribunal to direct the authorities to frame comprehensive and detailed guidelines for protection and conservation of fireflies, particularly within the Kalsubai wildlife sanctuary . You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Borhade said the sanctuary experiences significant ecological disturbances during the festival because of unregulated tourism. He said artificial lighting from flashlights, mobile phones and vehicle headlights interferes with the natural mating behaviour of fireflies and is contributing to a significant decline in their population. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo "Fireflies rely on bioluminescent signals for reproduction and increased light pollution during the festival negatively impacts their reproductive success," he said in his petition. Ambrish More had started the festival in 2012 around Arthur Lake and Bhandardara dam in Ahilyanagar district. He said, "I never expected the situation to become this bad when I first started to take tourists to see fireflies. Looking at the current situation, I often feel I made a mistake by exposing the spot to tourists and I may not be able to forgive myself for it." More further said the firefly population will vanish entirely from the region if authorities fail to restrict tourist activities in the area. "There is an urgent need to stop the festival for the next two to three years, at least. If authorities fail to act, I will personally send a legal notice to the forest department on the matter," he added. The festival started in Ahilyanagar and Nashik districts initially. Now it is also celebrated in other places like Bhimashankar, Malshej Ghat and Rajmachi in Pune and Radhanagri in Kolhapur district. Activists said tour operators set up tents and tourists often play loud music which adversely impacts the wildlife. Professional trekker Vinayak Wadekar, who has been visiting the areas for over two decades, observed a worrying trend. "The firefly population has dropped by nearly 20% to 30% in just the last few years as based on my experience," he said. Wadekar further said lack of management leads to heavy congestion in the area troubling local residents as tourists park their vehicles on the road blocking movement of other vehicles completely. Borhade said private operators are permitted by the forest department to set up tents and camping facilities within the eco-sensitive zone. He further said local forest officials issued a set of guidelines last year, but it proved inadequate to manage the situation — with most not being followed by tourists. Meanwhile, the NGT bench has directed the state forest and tourism departments to submit their affidavits within four weeks.
Hindustan Times
27-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
NGT asks authorities to submit report on visitors' policy ahead of fireflies festival
Ahead of the fireflies' festival to be held between May 17 to June 22, at various locations in Maharashtra, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) instructed the Maharashtra Forest Department and tourism departments to submit a report on the visitor policy for this festival. Ganesh Borhade, a resident of Nashik who is active in wildlife conservation in this area, has recently submitted an application, stating that due to the fireflies festival being held at Kalsubai Wildlife Sanctuary, the protected area faces significant ecological disturbances due to unregulated tourism during the festival, such as artificial lighting from flashlights, mobile phones, and vehicle headlights, which disrupt the fireflies' natural mating behaviour, leading to a decline in their population. The application further mentioned that the activity is being conducted under eco-tourism and ought to have been governed as per the 'Eco-Tourism Master Plan'. Various private operators are permitted by the Forest Department to establish tents and camping facilities within the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of the Kalsubai Wildlife Sanctuary. A set of guidelines was issued by the Range Forest Officer (RFO), Kalsubai Wildlife Sanctuary and Maharashtra Forest Department in May 2024, which was inadequate for the protection of Fireflies. Hence, the tribunal is requested to frame detailed guidelines for the protection and conservation of fireflies. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the NGT on April 17 issued an order directing the Maharashtra Forest Department and the Directorate of Tourism to submit their reply affidavits within four weeks. Speaking about the development, Borhade said, 'This particular application was made with regards to Kalsubai Wildlife Sanctuary, however, there is a mention of other forest areas as well, where such festivals are being held. Hence, it is applicable to all those places. Currently, the guidelines for such festivals are made at the local level by the Range Forest Officers.'
