Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Mar 20: A long-pending plan to construct a boundary wall around Sanjay Gandhi National Park has run into fresh resistance, with tribal residents in the Nagla range halting ongoing work, bringing into focus the growing tension between conservation efforts and traditional access rights.

Forest department officials said construction of nearly 18 km of the wall—part of a planned 52 km stretch in Nagla—has been stalled after local tribal farmers opposed the project. “Work was stopped by local tribal farmers,” an official confirmed, adding that authorities are attempting to resolve the issue through dialogue.

Local communities have raised concerns over the impact of the wall and proposed watchtowers, arguing that such measures restrict their traditional movement through forest areas.

Residents fear:

• Loss of long-used forest access routes

• Restrictions on daily livelihood activities

• Disruption of traditional corridors within the forest

For many tribal families, these routes are not merely pathways but integral to their socio-economic and cultural practices.

Officials maintain that the boundary wall is essential for protecting one of Mumbai’s last major green buffers. The project aims to:

• Prevent encroachments on protected forest land

• Restrict unauthorised human entry

• Reduce human–wildlife conflict

• Safeguard biodiversity and natural habitats

• Curb illegal tree felling and poaching

• Stop debris dumping within forest zones

• Strengthen surveillance and patrolling

• Clearly demarcate forest boundaries

The project traces back to a 1997 directive by the Bombay High Court, which called for the construction of a boundary wall to protect the park from increasing urban pressure.

In 2026, a high-powered committee was constituted to fast-track its implementation, underlining the urgency of preserving Mumbai’s ecological balance amid rapid urbanisation.

• Total area: 104 sq km

• Boundary length: 154.6 km

• Wall completed: Over 50 km

• Nagla stretch: 18 km under construction (part of 52 km segment)

The standoff in Nagla underscores a broader challenge faced across India—balancing environmental conservation with the rights and livelihoods of indigenous communities.

While authorities emphasise the need to protect fragile ecosystems, tribal residents continue to seek assurances that their traditional access and way of life will not be compromised.

Negotiations are ongoing as officials attempt to find a middle ground between ecological protection and community rights.