24 June,2026 04:40 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
During the gathering, participants voiced concerns over the BMC`s Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) Zonal Master Plan. Pic/ Special Arrangement
Residents and Adivasi communities associated with the Aarey Forest Rights Committee of P-South Ward in Goregaon on Tuesday held a Maha Gram Sabha in Aarey's Maroshi Pada to submit Community Forest Rights (CFR) claims under the Forest Rights Act, 2006.
The meeting was attended by officials from the Forest Department, Borivali Tehsil Office, project authorities and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), along with representatives of tribal organisations from Mumbai, Palghar, and Thane.
During the gathering, participants voiced concerns over the BMC's Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) Zonal Master Plan, alleging that it fails to adequately recognise the traditional and legal rights of Adivasi communities living in Aarey, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) region and other eco-sensitive areas.
Community representatives said Adivasi groups from Aarey, Yeoor, Waghle Estate, SGNP, and Dahisar have submitted Community Forest Rights claims to formally establish their rights over forests and adjoining eco-sensitive landscapes.
They also opposed several projects proposed under the ESZ Zonal Master Plan, claiming that further development and construction activities could adversely affect forest ecosystems and the communities that depend on them for their livelihoods.
Akash Bhoir, a tribal resident of Keltipada, said the gram sabha brought together residents from 21 tribal hamlets within the P-South division to discuss and advance collective forest rights claims covering the Aarey, Maroshi, and Prajapur areas.
"The forest is integral to our livelihood. We depend on it for firewood, wild roots, forest vegetables, crabs, and fish," Bhoir said.
He added that community members have prepared a detailed map documenting the forest areas they traditionally use, including indigenous place names that existed before the development of Aarey. The map was presented to government officials, including representatives from the tehsil office, project authorities, BMC, and the Forest Department.
Participants also used the map to explain their collective forest rights claim to both officials and local residents.
Environmentalist Amrita Bhattacharjee of the Aarey Conservation Group said a 2015 government order recognises both individual and community forest rights of Adivasi communities residing in forests located within municipal corporation limits.
She alleged that the final ESZ Zonal Master Plan for the SGNP does not adequately acknowledge these rights.
"The plan seeks to facilitate more construction and concretisation within forest areas of the national park and its eco-sensitive zone. It is encouraging to see Adivasi communities taking the initiative to protect Aarey's forests by asserting their community rights over these lands," she said.
The Maha Gram Sabha concluded with community members reiterating their demand for recognition of forest rights and greater consultation in decisions affecting eco-sensitive and forested areas.
