Mumbai High Court Directs State To Identify Alternative Lands For SGNP Rehabilitation

The Bombay High Court has directed the Maharashtra government to identify three alternative land parcels of around 90 acres each within two weeks for rehabilitating eligible residents from informal settlements inside the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). The move aims to expedite long-delayed resettlement efforts while ensuring the park’s ecological integrity remains protected.

A division bench led by Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam A Ankhad issued the order after the state government cited difficulties in locating suitable land within Mumbai limits. The court clarified that the identified parcels need not be near SGNP, but must be viable for residential rehabilitation.The direction comes amid petitions filed by a citizens’ association representing SGNP slum residents and a conservation NGO alleging non-compliance with High Court orders dating back to 1997 and 2003. Those rulings had mandated eviction of illegal settlements, rehabilitation of eligible residents, and construction of a protective boundary wall around the park.

Earlier in October, the High Court had constituted a high-powered committee chaired by a retired Chief Justice to recommend measures for encroachment removal and resettlement planning. The committee was also tasked with accelerating boundary wall construction to prevent further encroachments into the protected forest.During Wednesday’s hearing, the Advocate General informed the court that 44 acres in Marol-Maroshi part of a 90-acre government-owned land could potentially be developed for housing once a pending Zonal Master Plan for the eco-sensitive zone is approved. However, until the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) lifts its embargo on construction, the land remains restricted.The bench expressed concern that prolonged delays could stall rehabilitation indefinitely. “If the land is later classified as reserve forest, the project will be lost entirely,” the Chief Justice observed, urging the state to propose additional viable sites outside eco-sensitive zones.Urban policy experts note that the case underscores a long-standing challenge in balancing housing rights with ecological protection in Mumbai’s shrinking green zones. “Identifying resettlement land close to the city, while maintaining environmental compliance, is the real test of inclusive urban governance,” said an urban planner familiar with the issue.

The court has directed the state to submit an affidavit listing three potential sites within two weeks and scheduled the next hearing for December 3. The committee appointed in October will continue to oversee rehabilitation and environmental compliance simultaneously.The case is expected to shape future frameworks for slum rehabilitation projects near protected forest areas, setting a precedent for sustainable and equitable urban resettlement models across India.

Mumbai High Court Directs State To Identify Alternative Lands For SGNP Rehabilitation