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.