If the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) has their way, a sizeable chunk of the green cover around Lonavala could be converted in to an industrial hub in the years to come. mid-day is in possession of a circular dated July 22, issued by MIDC, seeking land records of Taje and Pimploli villages, which are situated right next to the famous hill station. However, villagers fear that villages like Boraj, Takve and Gargud are also under MIDC's scanner.

Ganesh Kedari, who heads the local Gram Panchayat, claimed that many villagers have already received notices informing them to vacate their land. "We have taken a collective decision to oppose any such move and we'll be meeting government officials on Thursday. A majority of our people are involved in agriculture, dairy farms and poultry businesses, that is their only source of income."