Hours after this newspaper exposed attempts by the land mafia to usurp forested patches inside Aarey Colony, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's office took a serious note of the alleged encroachment bid. Clear orders have been passed on to authorities to check the alleged unauthorised activity, said sources.

A government official who did not wish to be named said, "The CM's office has instructed the CEO of Aarey Milk Colony to make sure that no new encroachments come up in the area and if at all anyone is found constructing illegal houses, then a case should be registered against them."