We are not encroachers: Mumbai’s tribal community rejects BMC’s SGNP Zonal Master Plan

Tribals attend the event on Wednesday. PICS/Sarthak Mehta

Refusing to sign on the BMC's Zonal Master Plan (ZMP) for the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), tribals on Wednesday said they have been the original inhabitants of the place and are now labelled as encroachers. Over 2400 tribals from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) assembled at Chinchpada, SGNP, on Wednesday, in a united stand against the ZMP and to demand basic civic facilities.

Tribal hamlets inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park

The Adivasi Maha Gram Sabha, organised by the Adivasi Ekta Parishad, also called for the immediate implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) to protect their rights. Tribal residents of SGNP shared with Sunday mid-day that the ZMP violates their rights by labelling them as encroachers. And forest officials don't allow them to lead a normal life, "despite us being the inhabitants of the forest even before the national park was established," said a resident.

"We are forced to use makeshift or open toilets, and stay in leaking, unsafe homes without electricity, just because the authorities don't allow us to construct anything on our own land. They want us to relocate instead, which is not possible for tribals as the forest is an integral part of our lives," added a group of tribal women.

Voices

‘Against tribal interests'
Dr Sunil Parhad, tribal leader

Over 200 tribal hamlets were listed alongside other encroachers. We are not encroachers! Tribals have been living here for thousands of years. They [authorities] are trying to make the park human-free, but what about tribal land rights?

‘No water, electricity'
Gauri Magan Khaarvi, Chinchpada resident

We don't have electricity and water connections. Forest officials have been trying to evict us for decades, but we have lived here for many generations before the national park was established, and we don't want to relocate