A couple of weeks ago there were several media reports after six trees were cut on a plot of land. However, 200 metres away from this plot of land, in the National Park, far more trees are being cut.
According to local social workers, a gang has been running a business of selling wood obtained illegally from the Park. This group operates from Hanumanpada in Mulund Colony, says a social worker requesting anonymity.
According to this resident, the gang brings down both big and small trees, which they then chop and sell as firewood. Most of these people are slumdwellers, claims the social worker, adding that he has seen these people walking towards the forest from the slum.
As a result of this illegal felling, the Park has also lost a huge number of trees. A resident of Mulund Colony qualifies the same. He says, Ten years ago, the Park had a thick forest cover. I cant say how many trees have been cut but the number has decreased considerably.
Another resident from the same area says, If things continue like this, in a few years time there wont be any trees left on this side of the Park.
Another resident adds, This wood is sold to shops that sell puja goods.
babu@mid-day.com
Theres no gang operating here: forest department
Anand Bharati, deputy conservator, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, says, I dont believe that a gang can run a business like this. I will, however, ask my officials to keep watch and take appropriate action. If anyone is caught we will book the people under the Forest Preservation Act.
He adds, In other forests its possible for adivasis to be cutting the dry wood. But in this part that is also not allowed as officially there are no adivasis here. All the inhabitants in the Park are encroachers so there is no way they can take away wood from the Park.
Step 1
A couple of people enter the forest, chop trees and leave them in the forest for drying. They also set the grass on fire so that the small trees dry up.
Step 2
Following this four or five other members enter the forest and carry the dried trees to a small open plot at Hanuman Pada, behind Mulund Colony. This plot is close to the slums.
Step 3
The trees are then chopped for firewood. This job is done in the afternoon, say residents. The firewood is tied into bundles. Each bundle weighs around 20 kgs. According to locals, around five bundles are made everyday.
Step 4
At around 6 pm, these bundles are taken to the main road by women from the slums. They leave it along the roadside. From here unidentified people take away the bundles at night. Locals say they havent seen who takes these bundles away. But according to one shopkeeper a man comes late at night and picks up these bundles. metro reporter tracks the gangs work in the forest
We enter the forest and walk for 30 minutes. I notice several tree stumps on the way. These trees should have been older than six or seven years 
I see trees fallen on the ground that have been left to dry 
There are also spots in the forest where grass, bushes and small trees had been set on fire 
We stop at the spot where a group of people are chopping trees into firewood 
The c hopped wood is then collected into bundles 
I see a woman carrying a bundle of wood on her head and follow her. She places the bundle in a small nallah along Hanumanpada road in Mulund Colony and walks away 