mid-day Exclusive: Green buffer turns grey as illegal dumping spreads near SGNP ESZ, sparks 'land mafia' fears

Recent Google Earth imagery showing large-scale debris dumping and formation of a hillock-like structure near the SGNP boundary in Borivli

A massive debris mound has come up inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Sanjay Gandhi National Park near Borivali East, triggering allegations of illegal landfilling, water extraction and an organised land grab attempt.

The dumping is taking place in the Rushivan area along the park boundary, where residents and nature lovers say continuous construction debris dumping has transformed a green patch into a hillock-like structure.

Construction and demolition debris dumped inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone near the boundary of SGNP in Borivali. Pic/Ranjeet Jadhav

During a visit to the site, this reporter observed debris heaps, tin-sheet barricades, parked vehicles atop the mound and several water tankers stationed nearby. Pipes extending towards a natural water source inside the ESZ also raised concerns over possible illegal extraction and commercial sale of water.

Water tankers lined up near the debris dumping site inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone near SGNP in Borivali East. Pics/Ranjeet Jadhav

What we saw at the eco-sensitive zone

>> Huge mound of construction debris
>> Tin-sheet barricades around the dumping zone
>> Vehicles parked atop the debris hill
>> Water tankers lined up nearby
>> Pipes extending towards a natural water source
>> Banners warning against dumping

A massive hill-like mound of construction debris seen inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone near Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali East

What the locals fear

Allegations on the ground
>> Illegal dumping inside a protected eco-zone
>> Encroachment attempt by land mafia
>> Commercial water extraction through tankers
>> Gradual conversion of forest-edge land
>> Locals requested anonymity, fearing backlash

Construction and demolition debris dumped inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone near the boundary of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Borivali East

Activities banned in ESZ areas
>> Dumping construction debris
>> Altering natural terrain
>> Commercial extraction of natural resources
>> Activities damaging biodiversity buffers

Google Earth imagery from 2020 showing green cover and absence of debris dumping activity at the same site near SGNP. Pic/Google Earth

Activists Speak

Stalin D alleged the activity appeared to be a land encroachment attempt linked to the "land mafia". He also flagged concerns over water extraction from a natural source. "Despite strict ESZ restrictions, illegal encroachments continue unchecked. At Rishivan in Borivali, a once-green forest patch is now being buried under debris. Authorities could easily identify such violations using technology, but action is missing," said Rohit Joshi of Yeoor Environmental Society.

Recent Google Earth imagery showing large-scale debris dumping and formation of a hillock-like structure near the SGNP boundary in Borivali East. Pic/Google Earth

Official Speak

"We will look into the same, and the authorities concerned will be informed if illegal dumping of debris has been done," said a forest department official.

Then vs now

Google Earth imagery comparison

Pipes seen extending towards a natural water source near the dumping site inside the Eco-Sensitive Zone of SGNP

2020
>> Green cover visible
>> Trees intact
>> No dumping activity seen

2026
>> Vegetation disappears
>> Debris spread across the plot
>> Hillock-like structure emerges