Inability to get 13,764 tenements to relocate squatters outside the boundaries of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), the forest authorities have decided to hold back the demolition of slums within the forest boundary. The demolition would have helped in reclaiming around 176 hectares of forest land.
Senior forest officials claim that the delay in getting these tenements were leading to fresh encroachments mushrooming at several locations. "We have written to the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), Shivshahi Punarvasan Prakalp Ltd (SPPL), Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (MHADA) and others seeking vacant tenements so that we can begin rehabilitating squatters who qualify for relocation. However, we are yet to get any positive reply," informed Anwar Ahmed, Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) and Director of SGNP.
Ahmed informed that unless they shift families who are eligible for rehabilitation they could not begin demolitions to evict those who were not eligible yet encroaching.
"The houses are built next to each other and majority of them even share walls. We have no option but to first get the houses, shift them and then begin demolitions," he said.
Another senior forest department official said, "Providing homes is not the responsibility of the forest department. There were reports that the state wanted to sell off around 50,000 vacant houses. Instead, these houses can be used for shifting squatters," said the official.
Bombay Environmental Action Group (BEAG) had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in 1995 against encroachments after which the Bombay HC directed the state to resettle encroachers and demolish structures that fell under the forest boundary.
Issues faced
Encroachments in Sanjay Gandhi National Park are spread across areas like Malad, Kandivli, Dahisar, Mulund, Poisar,Thane and Ghodbunder.
The delay in getting land for squatters is leading to fresh encroachments mushrooming at several locations.
