Mumbai Forest Department Flags SGNP Draft Plan Seeks Stricter Eco Sensitive Revisions

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Draft Zonal Master Plan for the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) surrounding Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) has come under scrutiny from the state forest department, which has raised concerns over proposed development norms that may compromise ecological integrity. Officials caution that relaxed regulations could exacerbate human-animal conflicts and threaten wildlife corridors adjacent to the park, necessitating revisions before the plan is finalised.

A five-page communication from the SGNP director to the BMC commissioner outlines the department’s objections, emphasising alignment with the Union Ministry of Environment’s 2016 ESZ notification. This notification restricts construction within sensitive areas, allowing only regulated residential projects. The draft master plan categorises the ESZ into three zones: ESZ-1 (settlement), ESZ-2 (regulated development), and ESZ-3 (ecologically fragile). While ESZ-3 prohibits construction entirely, ESZ-1 and ESZ-2 permit extensive residential, commercial, and industrial activity, with certain exceptions.

Forest authorities note that the plan currently allows potentially conflicting activities, including hotels, commercial complexes, retail centres, concrete plants, and dyeing units within the ESZ. A senior SGNP official stated, “The draft permits more liberal development than the ESZ regulations allow, which could increase human presence near wildlife habitats, elevating ecological risks.” The department recommends a strictly enforced 1-km buffer around the park where only approved residential construction is permitted, alongside precise mapping of encroachments and slum expansion.Another key concern is solid waste management. Officials urge the inclusion of robust measures to manage waste generated by increased human activity and to mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Discrepancies in village boundaries, survey maps, and land categorisation were also flagged to prevent potential disputes and misuse of land parcels.

The forest department has further requested that all ongoing activities be assessed against the 2016 ESZ notification, with post-notification constructions treated as illegal. An official noted that the BMC, as chairperson of the ESZ Monitoring Committee, must incorporate these objections, adding, “The plan cannot bypass the committee, and we are ready to engage in further discussions.”A senior BMC official confirmed that the draft will be revised in line with the department’s feedback. Experts suggest that these interventions aim to balance urban expansion with ecological preservation, reinforcing SGNP’s role as a green lung for Mumbai while maintaining long-term biodiversity and community safety.

Mumbai Forest Department Flags SGNP Draft Plan Seeks Stricter Eco Sensitive Revisions