Drive-in vaccination centre at SGNP: Stop using national park for non-forest activities, say activists

The BMC has been told to make its own arrangements to set up and run the facility. Pic/Satej Shinde

While the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) authorities have given permission to the civic body to set up a drive-in vaccination centre at the parking lot, city-based environmentalists have raised objections saying using the national park for activities not related to the forest is not a good idea.

mid-day had reported the park authorities' decision to let BMC create a vaccination centre that would serve suburbs like Kandivli, Borivli and Dahisar.

The civic body had approached the Forest Department for permissions, and the Chief Conservator of Forests and SGNP Director G Mallikarjun had given the same on May 12. The permissions were communicated to the R Central ward office.

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Environmentalist Stalin D told mid-day, "There are many municipal gardens and playgrounds in Borivli that are currently closed. These could have been used instead of the SGNP's parking lot. The Dahisar Octroi naka, which is defunct, would have been perfect for a drive-in facility. The government needs to stop treating the national park as a free space for activities not related to the forest. Sadly, the forest department did not object to this. Hundreds of vehicles driving into the national park doesn't bode well for the environment and wildlife there. We urge the government to rethink this decision and help maintain the sanctity of the national park."

Some nature lovers, too, are of the opinion that other locations could have been looked at.

Activist Zoru Bhathena said, "There is no shortage of parking lots in Mumbai. Why chose SGNP for drive-in vaccines?"

However, forest department officials said on Monday that the ward office has been given clear instructions so green activists need not worry. "The drive-in centre would be located outside the SGNP gate. None of the visitors would even be getting out of their cars," the official said.