The demolition drive sparked strong resistance from residents, which they claim have been their homes for generations. The protesters alleged that the move violates their traditional rights and ignores protections under the Forest Rights Act (FRA)
Pic/Satej Shinde
On Tuesday morning, hundreds of people, including men and women, gathered inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) to oppose the demolition drive, leading to tense scenes in the protected area. The demolition drive sparked strong resistance from residents, which they claim have been their homes for generations. The protesters alleged that the move violates their traditional rights and ignores protections under the Forest Rights Act (FRA).
The residents condemned the administration’s action of issuing eviction notices during a holiday period, leaving them little time to respond or seek legal remedies.
Why the demolition drive in SGNP sparked protests
The forest department launched the drive targeting families in the Navapada area of SGNP, previously resettled at Chandivali in Powai under a rehabilitation programme. Officials allege that some beneficiaries sold or rented out their allotted homes and later reoccupied forest land inside SGNP.
Forest officials maintain that the action is part of legal measures to reclaim protected land. They cite violations by some families of the rehabilitation conditions.
Residents claim the demolition affects long-standing local communities.
Tensions escalated but no violence has been reported so far.
Activists question eviction and rehabilitation process
Activist Aslam Shaikh said that Adivasi communities are an integral part of SGNP, having lived in the area for decades with a traditional ecosystem-based lifestyle deeply intertwined with the forest. He questioned whether the government, while planning to relocate the Adivasis, also intends to relocate their entire ecosystem, asserting that the communities cannot be separated from their natural surroundings.
Shaikh alleged that decision-makers lack an understanding of the Adivasi way of life and are unwilling to engage meaningfully with the community. Raising concerns over rehabilitation, he said there has been no proper research on how the Adivasi population will be resettled. He claimed that no comprehensive survey has been conducted, noting that only a small number of families have accepted rehabilitation housing in Chandivali, while residents from more than 10 padas are still awaiting accommodation. Despite this, Shaikh alleged that the government is attempting to evict all Adivasi residents from the national park.
Activist flags legal and procedural lapses
Aarey activist Amrita Bhattacharjee told Mid-Day that the dispute dates back to 1995, when a petition led to a court order directing the removal of what were termed illegal encroachments. She alleged that during that period, some Adivasi families were compelled to accept rehabilitation flats in Chandivali.
Bhattacharjee pointed out that the original order predates the Forest Rights Act, 2006, which became applicable to forest areas under municipal corporations in 2015. She said tribal communities should not be treated as encroachers and relocated to slum rehabilitation buildings without due process under the FRA.
She also questioned the role of the Tribal Development Department and its project office in Borivali, stating that the authorities should have conducted awareness programmes and facilitated the filing of forest rights claims. "Notices were served on January 22 asking residents to submit documentary proof by January 24, following which announcements were made that demolitions would begin from January 27," Bhattacharjee said.
Bhattacharjee claimed that notices were issued to 10 out of 11 Adivasi padas in the area, affecting around 350 families. "The residents alleged that entire families were deemed ineligible for protection because one member had accepted rehabilitation decades ago," she said.
SGNP gates closed temporarily amid tension
Amid heightened tension in the area, the SGNP administration announced that the park’s main entrance would remain closed to tourists and the general public on Tuesday, January 27.
“All concerned are hereby informed that today, on Tuesday, 27.01.2026, the main entrance of Sanjay Gandhi National Park will remain closed for tourists and the general public,” said an official notice issued by the Deputy Director (South), SGNP, requesting cooperation from citizens.
According to forest department sources, the demolition drive was halted by afternoon.
SGNP Director issues clarification on eviction drive
The Conservator of Forests and Director, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali, issued a detailed statement seeking to address what the administration termed “misconceptions” surrounding the eviction drive.
The statement stated that in 1997, the Bombay High Court directed the removal of all encroachments on forest land within SGNP and laid down specific eligibility criteria for rehabilitation. Only those residing within the protected area and whose names appeared on the electoral roll as of January 1, 1995, were deemed eligible.
Under Phase I of the rehabilitation programme, more than 11,000 eligible families were allotted tenements at Chandivali, Powai. However, 299 families could not be rehabilitated due to a shortage of constructed tenements and were earmarked for Phase II.
High-Powered Committee and re-encroachment findings
As the 1997 court directions were not fully complied with, a contempt petition was filed and remains pending. The High Court subsequently constituted a High-Powered Committee to oversee compliance and recommend measures to protect SGNP.
The committee comprises former Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Dilip Bhosale, former Maharashtra Chief Secretary Nitin Kareer, former Maharashtra Director General of Police Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, and SGNP Director Anitta Patil as Member Secretary.
During consultations with various government agencies and stakeholders, the committee found that around 385 families who had already received rehabilitation at Chandivali had allegedly re-encroached upon forest land within SGNP.
The administration said such actions amounted to misuse of the rehabilitation scheme and that their eviction was ordered as a first step toward ensuring rehabilitation for other eligible families still awaiting allotment.
Notices issued after the enquiry, says the administration
According to the statement, SGNP authorities conducted detailed enquiries and provided hearings to the concerned families before identifying those who had allegedly re-encroached after rehabilitation. Eviction notices were published at relevant locations on January 17, 2026, asking occupants to vacate voluntarily.
The administration stressed that unless such families are evicted, other eligible beneficiaries would continue to be deprived of rehabilitation benefits envisioned under the 1997 court order.
Tribal status claim rejected by SGNP authorities
The SGNP administration rejected claims that the eviction drive targets tribal communities, calling such arguments untenable. The statement cited a Bombay High Court judgment in Manik Rama Sapte vs State of Maharashtra, which held that original tribal inhabitants of the forest area were rehabilitated to Palghar in 1977 and that no original Adivasi population remains within SGNP.
The administration maintained that the current occupants are governed by the 1997 High Court order, which has attained finality.
Stating that the eviction drive is mandatory to uphold the rule of law, protect forest land and ensure equitable rehabilitation, the SGNP administration appealed for public support.
The statement urged stakeholders to cooperate in safeguarding the forest ecosystem of the park and ensuring that eligible families awaiting rehabilitation receive their due benefits in accordance with court orders.
What politicians have said
An NCP (SP) spokesperson, in a post on X, raised concerns over the ongoing actions inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park, alleging that Adivasi padas are being demolished without proper surveys or verification under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). The spokesperson claimed that basic services such as electricity and transport have been cut, children have been forced out of school, and families who have lived in the area for generations are being labelled as encroachers. Calling the actions “displacement without due process,” the post warned that if demolitions continue without adherence to the law, affected residents would be compelled to intensify democratic protests and seek legal remedies.
What’s happening inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park needs to be on record.
— Anish Gawande (@anishgawande) January 27, 2026
Adivasi padas are being demolished without surveys, without Forest Rights Act verification, and with basic services cut. Families who’ve lived here for generations are being labelled encroachers. Children… pic.twitter.com/9gULnm4At3
In a separate post, the spokesperson said he had written to the Forest Minister, urging an immediate halt to what he described as illegal evictions of Adivasi padas inside the national park without FRA verification. He reiterated that continued demolitions would leave no option but to escalate protests and pursue legal action.
AAP Mumbai working president Ruben Mascarenhas also expressed concern in a post on X, alleging that Adivasi communities—whom he described as Mumbai’s indigenous people—are being unlawfully displaced from their padas within Sanjay Gandhi National Park and that their homes are being demolished. He said attempts to visit the padas along with AAP Mumbai leaders to move the court were hindered, describing the situation as chaotic. According to Mascarenhas, the area has been barricaded, water and electricity supplies disconnected, and public transport suspended. He termed these actions a gross violation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, and the principles of natural justice, asserting that Adivasis are the city’s original inhabitants and not encroachers, and called for an immediate halt to the demolitions.
URGENT : Adivasis- Mumbai’s indigenous people are being wrongly displaced from their Padas inside SGNP, their houses are being DEMOLISHED.
— Ruben Mascarenhas (@rubenmasc) January 27, 2026
Tried visiting the padas with @AAPMumbai leaders, to move court. Situation is chaotic.
SGNP has been barricaded, water supply and… pic.twitter.com/WI3MfSCDZc
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