Our land is not for sale: Ratnagiri village stands up to urban buyers
Ratnagiri: The tiny village of Ambavali, nestled in Western Ghats of Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district, has declared that its land not for sale — not to real estate agents, not to developers, not to 'outsiders'.
The decision, born from a deep sense of betrayal and fear of displacement, is more than just a refusal to sell, it is a powerful act of self-preservation by a community determined to protect its legacy, land, and dignity at all costs.
When TOI visited this village, 250km from Mumbai located in Mandangad tehsil with its 313 hectares of fertile land, it reflected a haven of mango orchards, cashew trees, paddy fields, and ragi fields.
But beyond its natural beauty lay something far more precious-- its people's connection to their land.
The gram panchayat's bold resolution was unanimously adopted in Dec 2023 during a village-wide meeting. The trigger was a govt announcement that the Ravas-Reddi Coastal Highway would pass close to the village. Within days, brokers, investors, and land agents began flocking to Ambavli, offering villagers large sums of money for their land.
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At first, some were tempted. One man sold his patch of land for ₹2 lakh. But what followed shook the village to its core.
"We later found out that the same land was sold again for over Rs one crore," village sarpanch Mahendra Ratate said. "We felt cheated. That's when we realised we had to act before it was too late."
The pain of that deception quickly turned into resolve. The gram sabha was called immediately. Families living in cities took time off work to return home.
What followed was an emotional yet unanimous decision -- no villager would sell an inch of land to 'outsiders' ever again.
Today, a weatherproof signboard greets all visitors at the entrance of the village. which reads: "No land within or outside Ambavli, owned by a village resident, shall be sold to outsiders. Any attempt to do so will be considered a violation of this decision. Outsiders are advised not to engage in land dealings here.
The village will not be responsible for any losses incurred due to fraudulent transactions. Brokers misleading villagers will also be held accountable.
"
The message echoes throughout the village — on its walls, trees, and farm gates. It's not just a notice, it's a manifesto.
Only 150 people, mostly senior citizens, currently reside in the village. The rest — the youth — have migrated to Mumbai, Pune, and other cities for work.
And yet, their roots remain deeply planted in Ambavali.
Sandesh Dhavade, a 40-year-old farmer, speaks of his inheritance with pride. "My grandfather built our house with his bare hands and preserved our land with what little he had. My father followed the same path. They gave us a legacy, not just property. It's my responsibility now to protect it, not sell it — no matter the offer."
His words reflect the sentiment of many in the village.
For them, the land is not a commodity but a sacred bond — with their ancestors, their identity, and the future of their children.
As more rural regions fall prey to land grabs and unregulated development, water scarcity and ecological degradation are rising across Indian cities. Ambavali's residents are determined not to walk the same path.
"Environmental concerns also drove our decision," the village notice explains.
"Selling land to outsiders would risk depletion of our natural resources, especially water, and could create future emergencies. We are protecting our land for generations yet to come."
This isn't a rejection of progress. The villagers insist they are not anti-development. Anant Ratate, another local, said, "We are not against roads, bridges, or any govt projects that follow the rules. What we are against is selling our homes to people who don't understand our soil, our needs, or our culture. If we do that, we will one day become guests in our village."
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