2 hrs ago
Thane Activists Oppose ₹3,700-Crore TDR for Biodiversity Park
Environmental activists and local residents protested a plan for a Biodiversity Park in Thane.
The proposed park is near Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
The disputed land covers 193 acres.
Protesters say the land should remain with the Maharashtra Forest Department.
They are worried that construction or commercial activity could harm forests and wildlife.
Activists also object to alleged development rights worth about ₹3,700 crore being given to a private firm.
They want those rights stopped or cancelled.
The protesters said they may hold stronger civic actions if their demands are not addressed.
Environmental activists and residents protested the proposed Biodiversity Park near Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
The disputed site covers 193 acres in Thane’s Chitalsar-Manpada area.
Protesters demanded that the Maharashtra Forest Department retain permanent control of the land.
Activists alleged that the Thane Municipal Corporation allocated TDR worth about ₹3,700 crore to a private firm.
The protesters said they would intensify civic action against commercial development and encroachment in the area.
- Who
- Environmental activists, local residents, civic groups, and members of the Hari Om Trekkers participated in the protest; the Thane Municipal Corporation is the authority behind the proposed reservation.
- What
- Demonstrators opposed the proposed Biodiversity Park and the alleged allocation of ₹3,700 crore in Transferable Development Rights for 193 acres of forest land.
- Where
- Near the main entrance of Tikuji-ni-Wadi, in the Chitalsar-Manpada area of Thane, near the foothills of Sanjay Gandhi National Park.
- When
- Saturday morning; the articles do not provide a specific date.
- Why
- Protesters want the land kept under permanent Forest Department control and seek to prevent commercial development, construction, and encroachment in the ecologically sensitive area.
Key facts
- Disputed land
- 193 acres near the foothills of Sanjay Gandhi National Park
- Proposed use
- Thane Municipal Corporation’s Biodiversity Park reservation
- Contested TDR
- Approximately ₹3,700 crore, allegedly issued to a private firm
- Protest banner
- Save Sanjay Gandhi National Park
- Protest location
- Near the main entrance of Tikuji-ni-Wadi
- Land control demanded
- Permanent control by the Maharashtra Forest Department
- Possible legal challenge
- The Maharashtra Forest Department is reportedly preparing to challenge the land status and TDR agreements before the Supreme Court
Quotes
Swapnil Mahindrakar
Campaign leader and civic activist who spoke at the demonstration
“This forest land is not merely a matter of administrative jurisdiction or financial transactions—it is directly linked to the ecological future of Thane city. Allowing commercial reservations or private TDR handouts on land that acts as the green lungs of our region threatens the entire wildlife habitat surrounding Sanjay Gandhi National Park. We demand that the administration respect the natural ecosystem and leave this land strictly under Forest Department control.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
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