Mumbai’s SGNP to Get ₹196 Crore Protective Wall
Amid mounting pressure from the Bombay High Court over unchecked encroachments and the delayed rehabilitation of slum dwellers within Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), the Maharashtra government has announced plans to construct a protective boundary wall around the 103.84 sq km green reserve. The project, estimated to cost ₹196 crore, aims to safeguard Mumbai’s last remaining forested expanse from further illegal settlements while addressing long-standing ecological and urban concerns.
The state government has issued 16 government resolutions (GRs) to grant administrative approval for the construction of the protective wall, which will enclose critical sections of the park spanning Mumbai and Thane. Key areas identified for fortification include Mulund, Yeoor, Ghodbunder Road, regions near Vihar Lake, Dahisar, and Magathane. This move follows a strong reprimand from the judiciary, which has been monitoring compliance with a 1995 High Court order mandating the removal of slums that had mushroomed before January 1 of that year.
The urgency of the situation was underscored in a recent court hearing, where a bench led by the then Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of SGNP due to continued encroachments. The court emphasised that allowing unregulated settlements to expand within the national park posed a direct threat to Mumbai’s delicate ecological balance. The judges also pointed to the potential risk of encroachments extending towards the park’s two major lakes, which serve as vital water sources for the city, warning that such developments could have severe environmental consequences.
As part of its broader strategy, the Maharashtra government has also initiated discussions on rehabilitating slum dwellers residing within SGNP’s premises. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to chair a high-level meeting to finalise the rehabilitation roadmap for 90 acres of land, which is to be handed over to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). The outcome of this meeting will be crucial in shaping the state’s response, which will soon be submitted in an affidavit before the High Court outlining the comprehensive plan for both the wall construction and the relocation of affected residents.
The issue of encroachments within SGNP has long been a point of contention, with conservationists, urban planners, and legal experts warning of the park’s gradual degradation due to unchecked human activity. Illegal settlements, deforestation, and unregulated urban sprawl have not only eroded its green cover but have also disrupted its rich biodiversity, home to leopards and several endangered species. The proposed wall is seen as a critical intervention to prevent further damage and reinforce the state’s commitment to preserving one of Mumbai’s most vital natural assets.
While the government’s move has been largely welcomed as a necessary step to safeguard SGNP, questions remain about the execution of the rehabilitation programme and the long-term sustainability of these measures. Experts argue that any protective infrastructure must be accompanied by stringent enforcement mechanisms to prevent future encroachments, while social activists stress the need for an inclusive rehabilitation strategy that ensures displaced residents receive adequate housing and livelihood support.
As Maharashtra prepares to present its case before the High Court, the coming weeks will determine how effectively the government can balance conservation imperatives with the socio-economic realities of urban expansion. The outcome will set a precedent not just for SGNP but for how Mumbai manages its last remaining ecological frontiers in the face of relentless urbanisation.
