Archive · 16 Nov 2025
Mumbai's Green Lung Under Threat from New Development Plan
Imagine a big, beautiful forest park in Mumbai called Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which is like a home for many animals and plants.
Recently, the city government made a new plan for the area around the park.
This plan is supposed to protect the forest, but many people are worried.
They think the plan will allow too much building, like houses and shops, which could hurt the forest and the animals.
Some people who have lived near the forest for a long time, like the Adivasi communities, feel like the plan doesn't include them and could change their way of life.
People are also upset because the plan was hard to understand and they didn't have much time to share their opinions.
They want the government to make sure the plan truly protects the forest and listens to everyone's concerns.
A new draft plan by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) of Sanjay Gandhi National Park has sparked widespread objections.
Critics argue the plan, which divides the ESZ into settlement, regulated development, and ecologically fragile zones, allows for significant real estate and commercial development that threatens the park's ecosystem.
Environmentalists and activists point to flaws in the zoning, particularly in ESZ-2, where ecologically vulnerable areas are permitted construction activities.
Concerns have been raised about the transparency and accessibility of the public consultation process, including the plan being released only in English and a short response window.
Adivasi communities living in the ESZ fear displacement and erasure, stating the plan undercounts their population and misrepresents their settlements and rights.
- Who
- Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), citizens, environmentalists, and Adivasi communities
- What
- A draft Zonal Master Plan for the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Sanjay Gandhi National Park that critics fear will lead to destructive development.
- When
- The draft plan was released on September 10 with a 30-day window for public response.
- Where
- The Eco-Sensitive Zone surrounding Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai and Thane districts.
- Why
- To manage development and conservation within the ecologically sensitive buffer zone of the national park, though the current draft is highly contested.
Government/Developers
Citizens/Environmentalists/Tribal Communities
Purpose of the Draft Plan
Government/Developers
The draft plan claims to conserve the eco-sensitive buffer zone around Sanjay Gandhi National Park and promote regulated growth through real estate, commercial, and tourism projects.
Citizens/Environmentalists/Tribal Communities
Critics argue the plan repackages real estate and commercial projects as 'regulated' growth, directly threatening Mumbai's last green lung and its ecological integrity.
Zoning and Development
Government/Developers
ESZ-1 (Settlement Zone) and ESZ-2 (Regulated Development Zone) allow for development including residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial projects, with activities in ESZ-1 also permitted in ESZ-2 unless specifically prohibited.
Citizens/Environmentalists/Tribal Communities
Activists and conservationists are concerned that zoning these areas, especially those with higher ecological vulnerability or as critical catchments, allows high-intensity development that will fragment ecosystems, affect groundwater, and increase flood risks.
Public Consultation and Transparency
Government/Developers
The draft plan was released with a public notice and a month's window for suggestions, with a municipal official reporting 1,500 applications received.
Citizens/Environmentalists/Tribal Communities
Concerns include the plan being released only in English, a limited response window, lack of contact details, difficulties in submitting objections across different municipal jurisdictions, and bundling of similar objections. Tribal communities also demand the plan in Marathi and more time.
Tribal Community Representation
Government/Developers
The draft plan identifies some tribal hamlets and mentions rehabilitation for slum dwellers encroaching on public land.
Citizens/Environmentalists/Tribal Communities
Tribal communities argue the plan undercounts their population and hamlets, misidentifies settlements, and fails to acknowledge their land and agricultural rights, leading to fears of erasure and existential threat.
- National Park
- Sanjay Gandhi National Park
- Area
- 100 sq km
- Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) Area
- Almost 60 sq km
- Plan Release Date
- September 10 (draft plan)
- Response Window
- 30 days (initial)
- ESZ Zones
- ESZ-1 (Settlement Zone), ESZ-2 (Regulated Development Zone), ESZ-3 (Ecologically Fragile Zone)
- Citizen Signatures
- Over 30,000 (Save SGNP campaign)