Slum residents oppose rehabilitation 50 km from Sanjay Gandhi National Park, say commute will be difficult
Slum residents living around Mumbai’s Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) have started opposing the proposed rehabilitation plan. To make the forest area free of encroachment, there is a plan to shift affected families to a location about 50 kilometres from the park. Local residents say being sent so far away will badly affect their everyday life and employment. They say travelling for up to five hours daily is not practical for them.
Concern over employment and children’s education
Affected families say they have been living in the same area for years. Their employment, children’s schools, hospitals and other essential facilities are available nearby. If they are resettled 50 kilometres away, they will have to spend considerable time and money to reach work and send children to school. Many people fear the long distance could create a crisis for their livelihood.
Disagreement over the rehabilitation site
Slum residents say a site should be chosen for rehabilitation from where their current workplaces and essential facilities remain easily accessible. Their opposition is less to the idea of rehabilitation and more to the distance of the proposed location. Residents have demanded that the administration listen to their problems and find an option that does not force them to compromise on employment and education.
Plan to make forest area encroachment-free
The rehabilitation process is being taken forward in connection with removing encroachments around Sanjay Gandhi National Park and protecting the forest area. The administration faces the challenge of protecting the environment and forest land on one hand, and ensuring proper rehabilitation for affected families on the other. It will now be important for local residents and the administration to reach an agreement on this issue.
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