A major twist has emerged in a land acquisition case in Yavatmal district, where a century-old tree once valued at a staggering Rs 1 crore has now been found to be worth only Rs 10,981. This correction has forced railway authorities to approach the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court to get back the excess funds deposited during the legal process.
The case began with the acquisition of 2.29 hectares of farmland owned by Keshav Tukaram Shinde in Kharshi village of Pusad taluka. The land was taken over for the Wardha–Yavatmal–Pusad–Nanded railway project. While the compensation for the land was given in 2018, payments for trees, a well, and other assets were delayed. After years of waiting, Shinde finally went to the High Court demanding proper compensation.
At that time, official records from the Tehsildar, District Collector, and the Railways identified a large tree on his land as red sandalwood, a rare and highly valuable species. Based on this, the High Court ordered the Railways to deposit Rs 1 crore as interim compensation. Out of this amount, Shinde was allowed to withdraw Rs 50 lakh.
Things turned when the Deputy Conservator of Forests from Pusad Division asked the Institute of Wood Science and Technology in Bengaluru to carry out a scientific test on the tree earlier this year. Their report revealed that the tree was not red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus) but Bijasal (Pterocarpus marsupium), a much more common timber species. The new valuation placed the tree’s worth at just Rs 10,981.
This revelation led the Railways to move the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, asking for a refund of the compensation, after deducting the revised value. The matter is expected to be heard soon.
Advocate Anjana Raut Narwade, who is representing the farmer’s family, argued that it was the government’s own officials who had originally certified the tree as red sandalwood. She said that even in court, the Railways had admitted it was a red sandalwood tree, though they had opposed such a high payout. The court order too had noted it as an “undisputed fact” and directed valuation on a per-kilogram basis. According to her, the new claim that it is Bijasal cannot simply overturn earlier findings. “Even if it is Bijasal, it is still a precious sandalwood species. The way its value has been calculated, based on timber sold after illegal felling, is not fair for a standing tree,” she was quoted by The Indian Express as saying.
Narwade also pointed out that during the survey process, officials from the Railways, Forest Department, and even the Collector had identified the tree as red sandalwood. She criticised the Railways for publicising the new valuation before the court has given its final decision. “The farmer has done nothing wrong. This confusion is entirely the result of official mistakes,” she added.
The lawyer further explained that the farmer’s petition had mentioned this tree along with 30 other trees that were never valued. She said that there are three more such pending cases. For example, khair trees can fetch between Rs 500 and Rs 5,000 per kilogram, and if all had been properly valued with interest, the total amount would have been similar to what the family received.
The dispute goes back to October 2024, when 94-year-old Keshav Shinde and his five sons approached the court, seeking compensation for trees and other farm assets that were overlooked. The family had already received payment for mango orchards and fruit-bearing trees but insisted that this particular tree and a pipeline were ignored.
Notably, the Shindes first realised the tree’s potential value when railway officials conducted a survey. They then consulted experts and even referred to YouTube videos to verify its identity, before starting their legal battle. After nearly eight years of repeated requests to various authorities, including the Collector, Forest Department, Railways, and Irrigation Department, the family turned to the High Court.
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