https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

How One Officer Fought Back to Reclaim Surat’s Forests

IFS Anand Subramani led a two-front battle in Surat: reclaiming 900 hectares of encroached forest land and busting a major illegal timber operation
Indian Masterminds Stories

The air was thick with tension, a mix of humid monsoon moisture and the palpable unease of a confrontation long in the making. For the 2011 batch Gujarat cadre officer, IFS Anand Subramani, Conservator of Forests, Bharuch, and his team, the 900-hectare tract of forest in Surat’s Vadpada Range was more than just a piece of land; it was a symbol of a forgotten promise, a battleground for ecological justice.

For years, this land had been systematically stripped and settled by illegal encroachers, its rich biodiversity replaced by a patchwork of illegal farms and settlements. The time to reclaim it had come, and it would not be an easy fight. In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the officer shared details about the same.

THE UNSEEN FOREST OF SURAT

When one thinks of Surat, the image that comes to mind is often of a bustling urban centre, a diamond and textile hub. But tucked away on its eastern flank, bordering Maharashtra and the districts of Narmada and Tapi, lies a vast expanse of forest, a part of the Western Ghats and Satpura range. This area, particularly the Vadpada Range, a 10,662-hectare tract carved out in 1998, had been under assault since 2007.

“Most people see Surat as just a city, but the eastern part is a completely forested area, and it’s a critical part of the Satpura peak and the main watershed for the Tapi and Narmada rivers,” Subramani explained.

Over the years, a steady stream of illegal encroachment, fueled by individuals from neighboring districts and states, saw over 900 hectares of this vital landscape fall into the hands of illegal occupants. The situation was compounded by 647 fake claims filed under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), all of which were officially rejected by district authorities in 2010–11. The forest was being strangled, and a bold, coordinated effort was needed to save it.

A BATTLE ON MULTIPLE FRONTS

The reclamation project was not just a legal and administrative challenge; it was a physical and social one. The initial efforts were met with violent resistance. Forest personnel were attacked, and a Radio Officer was hospitalised. Yet, the team pushed forward, refusing to back down.

The strategy was a multi-pronged assault on the problem:

  • Legal & Administrative Measures: The first step was to evict the illegal occupants, a process carried out with the help of local Village Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs). Following the attacks on staff, FIRs were filed, and security was beefed up with local police units.
  • Reforestation Drive: Once the land was cleared, the real work began. A massive reforestation effort was launched across the 900 hectares. This wasn’t just about planting trees; it was a scientific approach that included pit digging, contour trenching, and soil moisture conservation work. The team focused on native species like teak, bamboo, and acacia catechu, locally known as “kher.”
  • Community Involvement: A key to the project’s success was the deep involvement of the local community. The JFMCs, a crucial ally in the struggle, actively supported the eviction and reforestation efforts. “The local JFMCs came to me and said, ‘Sir, these are outsiders, encroaching on our land,‘ Subramani recalls. “That’s when I realised the villagers see the forest land as their own.” The project also created employment opportunities for local daily wage labourers, building a sense of ownership and shared purpose.

A PARALLEL STORY OF FOREST CRIME

While the Vadpada reclamation was underway, another significant forest crime case was unfolding. The trail began with a tip from a local informer. “A vehicle was coming from Tapi district with illegal material,” the officer explains. The team acted on the tip, leading to the discovery of 2.55 metric tons of illegal Acacia Catechu wood. The investigation revealed a much larger operation.

The trail led to a depot in Adirajpur, Madhya Pradesh, where an astonishing 2055 metric tons of illegal kher, valued at ₹4.39 crore, were stored. The case expanded, involving multiple states and agencies, including the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The accused, Mushtaq Qazi, went underground, leading to a prolonged legal battle that went all the way to the Supreme Court.

The case went to High Court, then to the Supreme Court. Both times, his bail was rejected. It took more than six to seven months to crack the complete case,” the officer shared with Indian Masterminds.

The coordinated effort led to the arrest of several individuals and the dismantling of the network. Even now, two members of the network remain at large in Dubai, with lookout notices served against them.

A LASTING LEGACY

Today, the 900-hectare Vadpada forest stands reclaimed, its scars beginning to heal. The massive reforestation drive has transformed the landscape, restoring its ecological integrity. But the most significant shift, according to IFS Subramani, is in the mindset of the local community.

“The local villagers have realised that the forest belongs to them. They’ve realised that the forest land is theirs, and this ownership is the most important factor for conservation,” he states.

This understanding, a shift from seeing the forest as government property to a shared resource, is the ultimate measure of the project’s success. The story of the Vadpada forest is a reminder that the health of our planet often depends on the quiet but firm actions of a few, who, with the help of many, can bring about a monumental change.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IRS Officers ndian revenue Services
In Unprecedented Move, Modi Govt Promotes 2001 Batch IRS Officers to Principal Commissioner Rank Ahead of IAS Counterparts
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
IRS Reshuffle 2025: CBDT Promotes 45 Senior IRS Officers to Principal Commissioner Rank - Full List Inside
RITES_green_logo
RITES Declares Final Dividend of ₹2.65/Share for FY 2024-25; Total Dividend Payout at 95.4% of Earnings
CM Pushkar Singh Dhami
Uttarakhand Achieves Historic ₹5,310 Crore Revenue Surplus: CAG Report Confirms Financial Milestone
FOOD_CORPORATION_OF_INDIA_FCI1
Food Ministry, FCI Ink MoU for FY 2025-26 to Improve Storage, Digitisation, and Supply Chain
cochin shipyard1
Cochin Shipyard to Build ₹15,000 Cr Shipyard in Tamil Nadu, Signs MoU to Develop Shipbuilding Cluster
images - 2021-07-23T090739
IFS Officer’s Complaint on ‘Fake Appearance’ Triggers Law Ministry Action, Central Vigilance Alert Cited
Rajasthan Public Service Commission RPSC new members 2025
Who Are the 3 Newly Appointed RPSC Members? Meet Ex-IPS Hemant Priyadarshi, Dr Sushil Bissu & Dr Ashok Kalwar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
From Extinction to Exhilaration: The Untold Story and Future Vision of Project Cheetah | Led by IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma | Eco Warrior Awards 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Harshita Dave MPPSC 2024
The Girl Who Turned Dreams Into a Deputy Collector Post at 22: Meet MPPSC 2024 Women Topper Harshita Dave
At just 22, Harshita Dave topped MPPSC 2024, becoming the women topper and securing Rank 5. Her journey...
Devanshu Shivhare MPPSC
How This Commercial Tax Inspector Topped MPPSC 2024: Devanshu Shivhare’s 5-Year Journey to Rank 1 | Exclusive Interview
Devanshu Shivhare secured AIR 1 in MPPSC 2024 in his fourth attempt while working full-time. His disciplined,...
Ishwarlal Gurjar UPSC
10th Grade Failure to Indian Police Service: Ishwarlal Gurjar’s UPSC Success Path
Read the inspiring journey of Ishwarlal Gurjar from a small village in Rajasthan to becoming an IPS officer....
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
IRS Officers ndian revenue Services
In Unprecedented Move, Modi Govt Promotes 2001 Batch IRS Officers to Principal Commissioner Rank Ahead of IAS Counterparts
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
IRS Reshuffle 2025: CBDT Promotes 45 Senior IRS Officers to Principal Commissioner Rank - Full List Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT