Bombay HC Criticises Encroachments in Sanjay Gandhi National Park
The Bombay High Court urges the State to tackle encroachments in Sanjay Gandhi National Park for a livable city
Mumbai, India, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Encroachment, Bombay High Court
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court is really pushing the State government to deal with the encroachments in Sanjay Gandhi National Park. They’re not happy that nothing has been done since a 1997 order to clear these settlements.
A bench led by Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar was looking into a plea from a group of slum dwellers wanting rehabilitation. An NGO also filed a petition pointing out the government’s failure to follow through on the 1997 order.
The court made it clear: “We want the city to be at least livable.” They highlighted the risk of losing water from the lakes in the park due to these encroachments. It’s a serious issue, and the court is frustrated with the government’s indifference.
Despite forming several committees, not much has changed since 1997. The State Advocate General, Birendra Saraf, mentioned that they’re working on it. They plan to declare the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) as a special planning authority to build homes for the encroachers.
But the NGO’s lawyer, Janak Dwarkadas, pointed out that the land is in an eco-sensitive zone. He reminded everyone about a 2016 rule that says any development in such areas needs to follow a specific plan. He also noted that the government keeps extending deadlines for rehabilitation, which isn’t helping.
The bench questioned the government’s commitment, asking, “Can’t your government see this situation?” They’re clearly concerned about the lack of action.
Dwarkadas also mentioned that the government hasn’t even built a wall to stop further encroachments, even though they promised to do so. The court has now asked the government to provide a detailed plan on how they’ll use the 90 acres of land while respecting the eco-sensitive zone rules.
They also want a timeline for when rehabilitation will be completed and a clear roadmap for how they plan to implement it. The court has scheduled the next hearing for January 14.