Demolition drive at Sanjay Gandhi National Park halted after residents oppose removal of alleged re-encroachments; drive focused against those resettled under rehabilitation programme
Residents celebrate after the demolition drive was halted at Navapada inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivli East, Mumbai, on Tuesday. Pics/Satej Shinde
A demolition drive launched by the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) administration against alleged encroachments inside the protected forest area faced stiff resistance on Tuesday, forcing authorities to temporarily postpone the action. Forest department officials said the drive targets encroachers who were earlier declared eligible for rehabilitation and relocated to Chandivli in Powai, but allegedly sold or rented out their allotted homes and later returned to re-encroach forest land within the national park.
Sources told mid-day that the demolition was deferred following protests by locals.
Protests at the park
According to officials, the first phase of the drive focuses on encroachments in the Navapada area of SGNP, involving families who were previously resettled under the rehabilitation programme. On Tuesday morning, hundreds of people, including men and women, gathered inside the park to oppose the demolition.
Forest department sources alleged that certain local elements were misleading and instigating residents, including those claiming tribal status, which added to tensions on the ground. Following the protest, the SGNP administration issued a detailed press statement to clarify the rationale behind the demolition drive and address concerns raised by locals.
Heavy police deployment outside the SGNP during the ongoing drive to remove alleged encroachments on Monday.
Background of the issue
In 1997, the Bombay High Court directed that all encroachments on forest land within SGNP be removed. The court laid down clear eligibility criteria for rehabilitation, stating that only those residing within the protected area and whose names appeared on the electoral roll as of January 1, 1995, would be considered.
Initially, eligible families were proposed to be rehabilitated at Shirdon near Kalyan. The plan was later revised, and rehabilitation was shifted to Chandivli in Powai. Under Phase I of the rehabilitation programme, more than 11,000 eligible families were allotted tenements at Chandivli.
High-Powered Committee
During the contempt proceedings, the court constituted a High-Powered Committee to ensure compliance with its orders and to recommend measures for the protection of SGNP.
385 families re-encroached
According to the SGNP statement, deliberations involving agencies such as SRA, MHADA, BMC, CIDCO, MMRDA, AAI, the Collector’s office, forest officials and police revealed that approximately 385 families who had already received rehabilitation housing at Chandivli had returned and re-encroached upon forest land inside SGNP. “These individuals have already availed the rehabilitation benefits extended by the state government. Their return to occupy forest land amounts to misuse of the rehabilitation scheme and the sympathetic view taken by the government,” the statement said. The High-Powered Committee subsequently ordered their eviction as a first step toward ensuring full compliance with the high court’s directions.
Notices issued
SGNP authorities said detailed enquiries were conducted and affected families were given an opportunity to be heard. Eviction notices were published at all relevant locations on January 17, asking the identified families to vacate the premises voluntarily.
‘Eviction unavoidable’
“In these circumstances, it has become imperative to evict persons misusing the system, notwithstanding isolated cases of hardship, in order to uphold the rule of law, protect forest land and ensure equitable implementation of the Hon’ble Court’s orders,” the SGNP statement said.
The administration appealed to stakeholders and the public to support the drive in the interest of environmental protection and the forest ecosystem, as well as to safeguard the rights of eligible families still awaiting rehabilitation.
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