High-rises being built in eco-sensitive zone near Sanjay Gandhi National Park: Environmentalist

Ongoing construction in the ‘eco-sensitive zone’ near Janupada at Thakur Village. Pics/Satej Shinde

High-Rises are being built in an eco-sensitive zone near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, environmentalist Stalin D has alleged. He has written to the chief minister, requesting suspension of the ongoing project as it will destroy the ecology.

"In Thakur Village, Kandivli East, huge residential towers are being constructed on an entire mountainside. Dumping of debris and rocks has started on this land. Some survey numbers of the site are 41, 41 A, 42, CTS number 874. While we feel this is SGNP or forest land, the same needs to be verified," he stated in his letter, also sent to the chief secretary. Stalin also claimed that during one of his visits, he had seen an old signboard reading that it is the property of the SGNP.

"The environmental damage to the forest areas and water drainages of the park cannot be done in an eco-sensitive zone (ECZ). We have seen illegal temples and dargahs cropping up on these hills. This could be the starting to construction of more slums inside the national park. Areas like Dindoshi hills see wildlife movement, and frequent sightings of leopards are reported. Further stress and conflict with the wildlife should not be encouraged," the letter read.

In his letter, Stalin highlighted that under the existing notification, "a zonal master plan has to be made and the ESZ monitoring committee has to clear the projects. But it doesn't seem to have happened in this case." Stalin has urged the government to stop the work and set up a committee of experts to survey all vacant lands around SGNP and suggest ways to maintain them as no-construction zones.

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"Maybe builders can be given adequate compensation as permitted under the law. Kindly intervene in this important issue and issue appropriate directions to protect the ESZ. An ESZ with skyscrapers and high human density is meaningless. We hope that adequate steps will be initiated to protect and conserve the ecology of the park and the ESZs," the letter concludes.

A Forest Department official, who did not wish to be named, said, "We will have to look into the matter before commenting. Instructions will be given to the concerned officials to verify whether or not the ongoing work is happening inside the forest boundary."