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Ropeway Over National Park Sparks Outrage
7 Nov
Summary
- Proposed ropeway threatens core zone of Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
- State forest department unaware of the PWD's ropeway proposal.
- Environmentalists warn of habitat disruption for wildlife.
A proposal by the state Public Works Department (PWD) to construct a ropeway over the core zone of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Mumbai has drawn sharp criticism from environmentalists. This plan, intended to promote tourism, would necessitate the erection of towers within an area housing diverse wildlife, including leopards and deer, which has been protected for decades.
The forest department, responsible for SGNP's jurisdiction, has stated it has no knowledge of the PWD's proposal. Environmental activists highlight that such construction and subsequent tourist activity would severely disturb the park's delicate ecosystem. They emphasize that the core zone is a crucial habitat and tourism should be restricted to the park's designated recreational areas only.
Previous attempts to develop infrastructure through SGNP's core zone, such as road projects, were met with strong opposition and ultimately canceled. Activists argue that ongoing construction near the park already distresses wildlife and that a ropeway would add further stress to the 'last surviving green lung of the city'.
