ESZ in Sanjay Gandhi NP notified
ESZ in Sanjay Gandhi NP notified
The Government has issued the Final Notification for an Eco-Sensitive Zone around Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai on 5th December, 2016. The ESZ has an area of 59.46 sq kms of which 19.25 sq km is forest land and 40.21 sq km is non-forest land. Sanjay Gandhi National Park is spread over three districts – Palgar, Thane and Mumbai Suburb and falls within the Tehsils of Kurla, Borivalli and Thane.
Anil Madhav Dave, Minister of State for MoEF&CC said that "After completing all processes, the final notification has been done. Now from its boundary, 100 metres to upto 4 kms, we have marked it. The extent (of ESZ) varies at different places taking into consideration its geographical area. No construction will take place in this (ESZ) area”. The Minister added that the step has been taken with a view to avoid man-animal conflict.
The Eco-Sensitive Zone has a minimum extent of 100 metres and maximum extent of up to 4 km from the Park boundary. The Eco-Sensitive Zones are supposed to serve as a buffer and further protection around Protected Areas (PAs) such as National Parks and Wildlife sanctuaries. However, Mumbai has grown so much that Sanjay Gandhi National Park is already covered from most of the sides by housing societies and the city.
The Notification also provides that in areas around Housing Societies and with high human habitation, and in view of the fact that the National Park has a large population of leopards, a high wall with fencing may be erected to ensure that man-animal conflict is avoided. However, it appears that the notification doesn’t take into consideration that there are leopards who are permanently staying outside the National Park boundaries. There are many leopards who stay in the Aarey milk colony and, in abandoned factories etc. The leopards staying in peripheral areas of the National Park also move out of the park in search of stray dogs, so erecting high wall with fencing may pose challenges for them and some of them may get entangled in the barbed fencing.
The draft notification for the ESZ around Sanjay Gandhi National Park was first published on 22.01.2016. There were representations from varous organisations, NGOs, and other stakeholders. The final notification excludes an area of 1.65 sq km land for the Mumbai Metro Rail Shed of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation, temple etc.
The MoEF&CC says that due to the unique location of Sanjay Gandhi National Park being in the middle of a bustling city, any new construction within ESZ shall be in accordance with Bombay Municipal Bye-Laws and Approved Development Plans and applicable laws and regulations under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act and vide provisions of the ESZ notification.
