Last Updated: 02.12.25

BEAG has been in the forefront of the campaign to frame environmentally compatible regulations for the Mahableshwar Panchgani region since 1983.

The Plateau was under tremendous pressure of ever-increasing tourist traffic which was straining the resources, amenities and civic facilities of the two hill stations.

In 1983, the Government of Maharashtra had become seriously concerned that the  unplanned development and construction would gravely damage the ecology and environment of the plateau and aggravate the ongoing deforestation.

The Government of Maharashtra therefore constituted a Regional Planning Board under the provisions of Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 (MRTP Act) to draw a separate Regional Plan for the Mahabaleshwar Panchgani Region with the prime objectives of restoration, conservation and protection of the ecological order and development of a nature reserve and for the purpose of regulating the use of land in this Region.

When the Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani Regional Planning Board was constituted in 1983, one  of its members was a BEAG trustee.

In July 1984, the Government of Maharashtra published the Draft Regional Plan for the Mahableshwar-Panchgani Region for public suggestions and objections.   Several of BEAG’s key suggestions were incorporated into the plan, including one to earmark 90 percent of the Mahabaleshwar plateau as a green zone/forest zone.

The final Regional Plan with Report  (1984-2001) was sanctioned on December 30, 1985.

Mahabaleshwar Development Plan Archive

In May 1983, the Mahabaleshwar Municipal Council submitted the Draft Development Plan of Mahabaleshwar (including the Development Control Rules) to the Government of Maharashtra for approval.

In 1984, BEAG intervened by filing suggestions and objections and making representations before the government to have rational building regulations introduced in the Draft Development Plan of Mahabaleshwar.

In 1985, the Government of Maharashtra sanctioned the Final Development Plan of Sector 1 and Sector 2  of Mahabaleshwar along with its report.

Panchgani Development Plan Archive

On January 20, 1987, the Panchgani Municipal Council published the draft Development Plan, inviting public suggestions and objections.

On January 1, 1988, the Panchgani Municipal Council submitted the Draft Development Plan to the Director of Town Planning, State of Maharashtra.

In March 1988, the Director of Town Planning sanctioned the Development Control Regulations on behalf of the Government of Maharashtra.