Don’t let anything jeopardise the ecology of SGNP

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

High-rises are being built in an eco-sensitive zone near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), an environmentalist has alleged in a report. The green warrior has put down his points in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, requesting suspension of the ongoing project as it will destroy the ecology of the park.

He claims that residential towers are coming up on what is SGNP territory. The activist has suggested to the state government that it conduct a survey of all vacant land near SGNP and maintain them as no-construction zones.

While a forest official said in this report that it is to be ascertained whether the construction is going on within the forest boundary, it is important that we pay attention to points raised in the letter. Let us ensure that this green place is sacrosanct. It is one of the very few lungs of Mumbai city. In fact, Mumbaikars are so proud to have a forest within city limits. Creeping construction means that the outer boundary of the park will shift steadily inwards if we do not keep a steady vigil and ensure that forest land stays green.

This paper had highlighted a mammoth nursery at the gate of this park, where people could buy plants and trees at very competitive prices. The nursery saw hundreds of buyers and is still on, till the end of this month. It is hugely ironical and tragi-comic then that a go green effort is made at the gate of the park, where people are encouraged to see wisdom in green, while that very space is endangered by proposed construction.

If the complaint has merit and is valid, the powers-that-be must swing into action, and ensure that green cover is not lost. Citizen-vigilantes can raise an alert but it is those in power who have the wherewithal to save the land.