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Maharashtra CM Orders Fixing Sanjay Gandhi National Park Boundaries

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed officials to find a permanent solution for rehabilitating encroachers in Mumbai's Sanjay Gandhi National Park. He mandated fixing the park's boundaries within a specific timeframe and prioritizing the relocation of approximately 5,000 citizens residing on them. A formal rehabilitation plan must be submitted within one month, using nearby available land and following High Court directives. The Chief Minister also ordered coordination between multiple municipal corporations and departments to prevent new encroachments and ensure basic amenities are provided during the process.

Key Points: Maharashtra CM Directs Rehabilitation of SGNP Encroachers

  • Fix park boundaries on priority
  • Rehabilitate ~5,000 boundary residents
  • Prevent future encroachments
  • Provide interim civic amenities
2 min read

Fix boundaries of Sanjay Gandhi National Park and rehabilitate encroachers: Maha CM

CM Devendra Fadnavis orders a permanent plan to fix park boundaries and rehabilitate encroachers, adhering to High Court directives.

"The Housing Department must evaluate available land options and submit a rehabilitation plan within one month - Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis"

Mumbai, March 13

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed concerned agencies to find a permanent solution for the rehabilitation of encroachers in Borivali's Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

During a meeting held at Vidhan Bhavan, the Chief Minister instructed officials to verify nearby available lands and create a formal plan for rehabilitation.

He further mandated that the park's boundaries be fixed within a specific timeframe and that citizens residing on these boundaries be rehabilitated on a priority basis.

The Chief Minister also directed that basic civic amenities be provided to the encroachers on humanitarian grounds until their rehabilitation is complete. For those on the Mulund and Thane sides of the park, he instructed officials to identify nearby sites for their relocation.

"The Housing Department must evaluate available land options and submit a rehabilitation plan within one month, prioritising the simplest and fastest execution methods. Once boundaries are fixed, approximately 5,000 citizens residing on the boundaries and in 'core areas' should be rehabilitated immediately using nearby available land, following all legal regulations. The process of removal and rehabilitation must strictly adhere to the directives issued by the High Court to resolve this issue permanently," said the Chief Minister.

He further directed that Thane, Mira-Bhayandar, and Mumbai Municipal Corporations, along with the Housing and Forest Departments, must work in coordination, and concerned departments must ensure that no new encroachments occur around the park in the future.

He said that total care must be taken to ensure no one is treated unfairly during the process. Additionally, the exact number of encroachers must be verified.

According to the government release, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is the world's largest national park located within a metropolitan city.

It plays a vital role in Mumbai's flood control; it serves as the catchment area for Tulsi, Vihar, and Powai lakes. It has been the origin point of the Dahisar, Poinsar, Mithi, and Oshiwara rivers.

The park is a major attraction for millions of domestic and international tourists, famous for nature trails and wildlife spotting.

The park contains 43 padas (hamlets) and townships, housing over 2,000 tribal families.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
This is a very sensitive issue. While protecting the park is crucial, we must ensure the rehabilitation is genuine and not just moving people to another slum without proper facilities. Many of these families have lived there for generations.
R
Rohit P
Good move by CM. The park's role in flood control for Mumbai cannot be overstated. Encroachments near the rivers' origin points are a disaster waiting to happen, as we've seen in past monsoons. Fixing boundaries is long overdue.
S
Sarah B
As a frequent visitor to SGNP for trekking, I've seen the encroachment issue firsthand. It's a complex problem, but the directive to provide basic amenities until rehabilitation is a compassionate touch. Hope the coordination between departments actually works this time.
K
Karthik V
The plan mentions 5,000 citizens, but the article says over 2,000 tribal families. That's a huge number. Where is so much 'nearby available land' in Mumbai/Thane? Sounds good on paper, but the reality of land availability is very different. Hope they have a concrete plan.
M
Meera T
Protecting the park is non-negotiable for our city's future. But let's not forget the tribal families who are original inhabitants, not just 'encroachers'. Their rehabilitation must be done with dignity and proper consultation. Jai Hind.
D
David E

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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