Sanjay Gandhi National Park's Ecological Value Surpasses BMC Budget, Rules Bombay HC

MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court has acknowledged the immense ecological importance of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), stating that if the park’s ecological benefits were to be monetized, they would exceed the budget of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), India’s wealthiest civic body. This statement came during the hearing of a petition filed by the Conservation Action Trust, which accused the government of violating previous court orders related to the rehabilitation of slum dwellers residing in the park.

SGNP, which is located within Mumbai's municipal limits, houses around 86,000 slum dwellers, most of whom belong to tribal communities. Since 1995, there have been legal proceedings aimed at removing illegal structures and relocating encroachers to a site identified by the forest department. However, only a small fraction of the residents—around 1-2%—have been successfully rehabilitated, according to the latest petition. The Trust also raised concerns over ongoing projects and the threat they pose to the park's survival.

Senior advocate Janak Dwarkadas, representing the petitioner, highlighted the continued encroachments and the alarming trend of real estate agents selling plots within the park. The next hearing is scheduled for Monday, where the court will continue its review of the issue.