December 22, 2025: The Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the formation of a state-level committee to tackle encroachments and unauthorised constructions at heritage sites across Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, marking a significant step towards strengthening conservation efforts. The committee will be headed by the state’s Cultural Affairs Minister and will include ministers and senior officials from departments such as revenue, tourism, urban development, public works, forests, finance, planning, ports development and home affairs.
The decision broadens the scope of a government resolution issued in January 2025, which had primarily focused on removing encroachments from forts. Under the revised mandate, the committee will now oversee the protection of all state-protected monuments, including non-fort heritage structures in Mumbai and other districts. Prominent sites identified under the initiative include August Kranti Maidan, Dharavi Fort, St George Fort and the Khandeshwari Caves in Thane.
Officials said the presence of unauthorised structures around heritage assets not only damages their historical character but also restricts public access and threatens long-term preservation. The new framework aims to address these concerns through coordinated action across departments. The state-level committee will supervise district-level panels, issue guidelines and take key policy decisions to ensure uniform implementation of encroachment removal and conservation measures.
To streamline execution, the Planning Department has been authorised to release funds directly to district collectors for heritage conservation works and encroachment clearance. Maharashtra currently has around 390 state-protected monuments, many located in urban and semi-urban areas where development pressure is high. These include sites in Mumbai and Thane as well as Vasudev Balwant Phadke’s birthplace in Raigad, ancient rock carvings in Ratnagiri, Buddhist caves at Khed, and memorials in Nashik, Sangli and Kolhapur.
The initiative will also cover 145 state-protected temples, including the Tuljabhavani temple and the Khandoba temple at Jejuri. Officials said the move is intended not only to safeguard rapidly vanishing heritage but also to promote cultural tourism by restoring public access and preserving the historical integrity of these sites for future generations.
Source: Prop News Time
