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Mumbai's Green Lung Under Threat!
23 Nov
Summary
- BMC draft masterplan proposes development in SGNP buffer zone.
- Environmentalists argue this will lead to park's disappearance.
- Over 26,000 objections submitted to the BMC draft plan.
Mumbai's Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) is at the center of a critical environmental battle as the BMC's draft masterplan suggests opening its 60 sq km eco-sensitive buffer zone to developers. This proposal has galvanized environmental activists and local communities, who argue that such development will inevitably lead to the park's demise.
The draft plan, released recently, divides the buffer zone into sections with minimal restrictions, raising alarms among conservationists. Despite a mandatory public hearing process, concerns persist that the plan is designed to facilitate construction rather than protect the delicate ecosystem, with even indigenous communities feeling their land is at risk.
Environmental groups have mobilized extensively, gathering over 26,000 objections and preparing for further action, including potential legal challenges, if the BMC proceeds without significant amendments. The fight to preserve SGNP highlights the ongoing tension between urban development and environmental conservation in Mumbai.
