Katkari tribls who have been tilling the land for more than 20 years, are being pushed back to denuded forests. These events occurred only about six months ago, due to the forces of "development" that have crept in from nearby Mumbai. Since October 1998, about 1,500 Katkari tribals have been pushed back into the denuded forest from where they descended centuries ago. Their land is being sold by the central government to wealthy Mumbaikars, who are snapping it up at around Rs 40,000 per acre.