Mumbai: The rehabilitation process for people occupying encroached forest land within Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) has gained momentum, with 8,850 eligible residents agreeing to consider alternative accommodation at Khoni and Shirdon near Kalyan.
Forest officials said the response could increase further, with around 2,000 additional beneficiaries potentially joining the rehabilitation programme. The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has offered 6,500 homes for the resettlement exercise.
Forest minister Ganesh Naik visited the information collection centre on Sunday and reviewed the ongoing documentation process. He also directed officials to complete the exercise efficiently and transparently.
SGNP covers approximately 103 sq km and has 29,957 recorded encroachments across its northern and southern divisions. The southern division accounts for 11,055 eligible occupants who qualify for rehabilitation. By September 27, 8,850 of them had submitted their documents to the park administration.
Deputy director (South) Kiran Patil said the strong response could push the number of beneficiaries who have completed documentation beyond 10,000. The deadline for the remaining eligible residents has consequently been extended until September 30.
“This overwhelming response to the appeal made by the park administration indicates the willingness and preparedness of eligible encroachers to participate in the rehabilitation process,” said a senior officer of SGNP. “As beneficiaries are coming forward voluntarily and submitting their documents, the process of information collection has gained considerable momentum.”
The rehabilitation drive follows a long-running legal and administrative dispute over settlements within the national park. The Bombay High Court had directed the removal of encroachments in 1997, although the process faced opposition from political groups.
Earlier this year, the forest department began action against 500 families that had previously accepted free alternative accommodation but had not shifted. The drive was subsequently halted after BJP leaders met the forest minister.
Environmental activist Debi Goenka, who filed the petition seeking removal of encroachments on behalf of the Bombay Environmental Action Group in 1995, welcomed the latest development.
“I am happy that the government is getting its act together and providing rehabilitation tenements to eligible encroachers. This is long overdue. The first judgement was given on May 7, 1997,” Goenka said.
He added that he hoped residents would not return to the forest after receiving rehabilitation homes.
Source: Hindustan Times
