India, Nov. 13 -- Chief conservator of forests (land records) , Maharashtra forest department, N Jaikumaran, has directed Pune forest department officials to stop any tree-felling activity related to the Riverfront Development (RFD) project along the banks of the Mula, Mutha, and Mula-Mutha rivers.

The official communication - issued to the conservator of forests, Pune, on November 10 - comes pending the evaluation of 'deemed forest land' in riparian zones by an expert committee constituted by the state of Maharashtra in keeping with a Supreme Court (SC) order dated March 4, 2025. The directive also comes in the wake of a representation submitted by advocate Ronita Bhattacharya Bector and Kedar Bhagwat, director, Ecological Society, Pune...