Proposal sent to rename Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park after Atal Bihari Vajpayee, set up university inside green area

Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai. File Pic

The Maharashtra Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), Wildlife, has written to the Maharashtra Additional Chief Secretary (Forest) proposing that Sanjay Gandhi National Park(SGNP) be renamed as "Atal Bihari Vajpayee National Park" and that a world-class Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee University be established within the same campus.

Regarding the proposal to change the name, the letter states that this is primarily a policy matter and must be considered by the State Government at the appropriate level. It also suggests that the words "National Park" should be retained in any proposed name to avoid ambiguity regarding its statutory status as a protected area.

However, the department raised strong objections to the university proposal. It noted that SGNP is a notified national park and an important wildlife habitat within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

The letter warned that establishing a university would involve construction activities, transport infrastructure, public movement, utilities, and long-term institutional use, all of which could alter land use patterns and disturb wildlife habitats.

The letter further stated that such activities are inconsistent with wildlife conservation and protected area management. Citing provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Forest Conservation Act, the department said it cannot recommend setting up a university within the notified national park area.

"If the government intends to establish such a university, suitable land outside the notified national park area and ecologically sensitive wildlife zones may be explored," the letter suggested.