Lok Sabha Question No. 534 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-20
Subject: Forest Areas of Sanjay Gandhi National Park
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.534

TO BE ANSWERED ON  20.07.2018

## Forest Areas of Sanjay Gandhi National Park

## 534. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) the total area as on date including private forest areas of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Mumbai vis-à-vis the total area at the time of setting up of the park;
- (b) the total Public and private area of the park before acquisition of land in the year 1957 and 1975;
- (c) whether the Government had issued any notice to slum dwellers residing in and around the park before acquisition of the said land and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether compensation has been paid to slum dwellers and land owners after the acquisition of the land; and
- (e) if so, the details of the amount paid so far and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) As  per  information  received  from  the  State  Government  of  Maharashtra,  the total  area  of  Sanjay  Gandhi  National  Park-  erstwhile  Borivali  National  Park, Mumbai as on date including Private Forest Areas is 104.41 sq.km. (10441 ha). The total area at the time of setting up of park is given in the Annexure.
- (b) As informed by the State Government, the total Public area of the National Park before  1957  was  2076.9850  hectares  and  the  area  at  the  end  of  1975  was 10365.4850 ha.
- (c) The  slum  dwellers  were  not  issued  any  notice  under  the  provisions  of  the Section 35 of the Indian Forest Act 1927 as their names were not recorded on the relevant revenue records (7/12 ectract) at that instant.

The Sanjay Gandhi National Park has issued notices for eviction of ineligible encroachments  as  ordered  by  the  Hon'ble    High    Court    Mumbai  in  Writ Petition No. 305/1995 for their eviction from 'Forest Lands'.

- (d)&(e) The 'Awards' in case of the land acquired  under  the land  Acquisition  Act, 1894  has  been  awarded  by  the  appointed    land  Acquisition  Officers  and  the detail  thereof , except for the 'Award'  in respect of village Chene of the Thane Taluka, is not available with the office of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.

As per the record available with the office of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, the  amount  of  compensation  to  be  paid  in  cases  of  land  acquired  under  the Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition) Act, 1975 has not been done.

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## ANNEXURE

## GANDHI NATIONAL PARK' RAISED BY SHRI GOPAL SHETTY DUE FOR REPLY ON 20.7.2018.

The total area at the time of setting up of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, as informed by the State Government, is given chronologically:

- i. Private land to the extent of 2076.9850 ha, acquired under Land Acquisition Act,  1894  [(in  villages  Dahisar  (345-B),  Kanheri  (11,12,13,14  and  15), Magathana  (34-B),  Poisar  (42-B)  and  Akurli  (87-B)]  acquired  for  'Public Purpose' viz. for establishment of 'National Park' on 16.01.1947  & 28.09.1948. The Management of these Acquired Lands were with the Dairy Dept. Of the State of Maharashtra till 31.12.1968. These lands were handed over  to  the  Forest  Dept.  for  management  by  the  State  Government  on 01.01.1969.
- ii. Furthermore, 1027.0710 ha. of private lands acquired in village - Chena under Land Acquisition Act, 1894 on 13.12.1974 for the public purpose of 'National Park' handed over to Forest Department for management.
- iii. These acquired areas, alongwith the Reserved Forests of villages Ghodbounder, Kashi, Majivada, Mira, Pachpakhadi & Yeur of Thane District and  Akurli,  Dahisar,  Gundgaon,  Kanheri,  Klerabad,  Magathane,  Mulund, Nahur, Poisar, Sai, Tyulsi & Vihar of Mumbai Suburban District proposed for formation of Borivali National Park under  section 35  of the Wildlife (Protection)  Act,  1972  with  notification  of  intention  on  15/4/1975  for  an extent of 56.511 sq. Kms of area.
- iv. This notification was superseded by a notification of intention of 31.01.1976 with inclusion of area acquired at S.No.ii of village Chena and the extent of area was increased to 68.977 sq. Kms.
- v. The Notification of 31.01.1976 was superseded by notification of intention on 04.02.1983  with  inclusion  of  Reserved  Forests  of  Kolshet  Block  (VillageBorivade, Ovale, Kavesar  &  Kolshet), Nagla  Block (village -Nagla, Sarjamori,  Sasunavaghar  &  Shilottar)  and  acquired  Reserved  Forests  of Village - Maland with exclusion of acquired lands of village Kanheri & part of Magathane. The extent of area of this notification was 86.96 sq. Kms.
- vi. Private    Forests  to  the  extent  of  3104.0560  ha  acquired  on  30.8.1975  upon promulgation of Maharashtra Private  forests (Acquisition)  Act, 1975.
- vii. The area of Private  Forests acquired on the promulgation of the Maharashtra Private Forests (Acquisition) Act, 1975 and tourism cum administrative zone of  the  Sanjay  Gandhi  National  Park  including  the  86.96  sqkm  has  been defined  on  the  Map  of  SGNP  and  submitted  to  the    Hon'ble  High  court Mumbai  in  W.P.305/1995.  The  Hon'ble  Court    has  barred    the  State Government from changing the boundaries so defined in this map.
- viii. Area to the extent of 76.00 ha of village Marol-Maroshi of Dairy Department handed  over  to  Sanjay  Gandhi  National  Park  for  formation  of  Zoo  on 24.7.2013.

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