11 September,2026 03:36 PM IST | Mumbai | Sarthak Mehta
The protesters emphasised the need to recognise the role of tribal communities in protecting the region’s forests and biodiversity. Pic/ Sarthak Mehta
More than 1,000 members of the Adivasi community staged a protest outside the main entry gate of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Borivli East, Mumbai, on Friday, demanding implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA).
The protesters said implementing the laws would protect their rights and enable tribal communities to continue their traditional role in conserving and regenerating forests and ecologically sensitive areas, including Aarey and Yeoor.
The protest also affected traffic towards South Mumbai on the Western Express Highway between Dahisar and Kandivali after the Adivasi community members began a long march from Borivli towards Raj Bhavan.
Vikas Baraf, a tribal resident of Yeoor who participated in the protest, said the march was part of their ongoing fight against the alleged displacement of tribal homes.
"This march is in continuation of our fight against displacement of tribal homes by the government. You cannot snatch the forest away from the tribals; it is our home. We have coexisted here for generations; tribals are actually the ones who have protected these areas from capitalistic development," he said.
Vijay Ramchandra Matera, a tribal leader from Wagle Estate, said the community had earlier staged a protest at Azad Maidan and held gram sabhas where letters outlining their demands were signed and submitted to the authorities.
"We have gotten no response. Thus today, for the first time, we have decided to take our morcha to Raj Bhavan. Over 1,000 people have come together for the protest and more will come," Matera said.
He alleged that police were preventing the protesters from moving ahead and said the community would remain at the spot until it received a response from the government.
Prakash Bhoir, a tribal leader from Aarey, alleged that forest rights claims submitted by tribal residents were still pending despite the submission of documents.
"They want to push us out of our own forest. Our forest rights claims have been pending despite submitting all documents, while many tribal hamlets still lack basic amenities like electricity, water and proper roads," Bhoir said.
He also alleged that authorities were attempting to relocate tribal residents through Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) schemes instead of addressing their demands.
"We are marching peacefully to Raj Bhavan because we want our rights to be recognised and our demands heard," he said.
The protest comes months after Mid-Day reported in April that more than 2,400 tribals from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region had participated in a Mahagramsabha at Chinchpada in SGNP. The gathering saw tribal representatives oppose the Zonal Master Plan and demand basic civic amenities for tribal settlements.
