India, May 19 -- Forest department records have revealed that nearly 90 per cent of reserve forest land currently under dispute in Pune district is being used for agriculture and allied activities.

According to official data, at least 14,000 hectares of reserve forest land remain under ownership dispute.

Over the past four years, the Pune forest department has been working extensively to resolve land disputes concerning reserve and private forest lands in the district. Most of these disputed lands are in Indapur, Daund, Wadgaon Maval, Baramati, Pune city, and the surrounding areas. A recent Supreme Court ruling has now cleared the way for the department to initiate the process of reclaiming these lands.

The roots of the dispute trace b...