📢 Petition Title : “Safeguard Sanjay Gandhi National Park: Halt Encroachment, Ban Plastic & Control Stray Dogs Now!”

1️⃣ Preamble & Legal Standing

To:
The Honourable Minister of Environment, Government of MaharashtraThe Chief Wildlife Warden, Maharashtra Forest Department
Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (BMC)

We, the undersigned residents, environmental advocates, and legal custodians of public interest, respectfully submit this petition invoking our Constitutional duties under Article 48‑A (Protection of Environment) and Article 51‑A(g) (Fundamental Duty to Protect Natural Environment), alongside mandates under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.

2️⃣ Issue 1: Widespread Illegal Encroachment

🛑 Legal Problem

Despite a budgetary allocation of ₹221 crore and a 2003 High Court directive, illegal residential and commercial encroachments continue within SGNP’s notified boundaries. Alarmingly, only ~49 km of the planned ~154 km boundary wall has been completed, leaving large swathes vulnerable. This unchecked growth is fragmenting wildlife corridors and accelerating habitat degradation.

📰 Recent Evidence

In a July 14, 2025 affidavit to the Bombay High Court, the SGNP Director revealed that bulldozers are being blocked by hostile crowds—highlighting a serious law enforcement vacuum.

📝 Prayer for Relief

Immediate completion of full boundary demarcation within 90 days, in compliance with the 2003 HC order.

Constitution of a State-led Rehabilitation & Resettlement Panel to humanely relocate encroachers, ensuring legal compliance and dignity.
Initiation of enforcement and prosecution under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980 for wilful violators and encroachers.

3️⃣ Issue 2: Plastic Pollution Threatening Ecosystem Integrity

🌿 Ecological Concern

SGNP is choking under plastic pollution. In March 2024 alone, over 140 kg of plastic waste was cleared by citizen volunteers. Wild deer, langurs, and even leopards are being exposed to and consuming toxic debris.

⚖️ Legal Basis

Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016, the presence of single-use plastics in ecologically sensitive zones is expressly prohibited.

📝 Prayer for Relief

Immediate ban on single-use plastic items inside SGNP premises.
Installation of multi-lingual signage declaring plastic prohibition, with on-the-spot fines for violators.
Institutionalisation of monthly clean-up drives, in collaboration with local NGOs, students, and forest staff.

4️⃣ Issue 3: Stray Dogs Threatening Native Wildlife

🐾 Public Safety & Wildlife Protection
An alarming rise in stray dog attacks has resulted in the death of multiple deer and langurs. Viral videos and on-ground investigations confirm the presence of dog packs actively hunting vulnerable species within park limits.

📚 Relevant Law

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, along with Supreme Court directions on animal birth control (ABC), mandates humane sterilisation and population control—especially near wildlife sanctuaries.

📝 Prayer for Relief

Direct the BMC to implement sterilisation and vaccination drives in a mission mode across all SGNP-adjacent settlements within 180 days.
Create buffer zones with reinforced fencing to prevent canine ingress into protected core areas.
Establish a Dog–Wildlife Monitoring Task Force comprising forest officials, vets, and volunteers to conduct surveillance and deploy humane mitigation strategies.

5️⃣  Scientific & Judicial Precedents
Encroachment: Judicial orders and budget allocations have already been sanctioned; implementation is non-negotiable.

Plastic Ban: The Supreme Court has repeatedly stressed the importance of eliminating non-biodegradable waste in eco-sensitive zones.
Stray Dog Control: Court guidelines affirm the legality of sterilisation and vaccination drives in wildlife-adjacent regions.

6️⃣ Relief Sought & Prayer

In the interest of ecological preservation and legal compliance, we, the petitioners, urge the Honourable Authorities to:

Complete boundary wall construction and initiate encroachment rehabilitation within 90 days.
Ban all single-use plastics within SGNP and ensure consistent enforcement.
Execute sterilisation and vaccination drives for stray dogs around SGNP within six months.
Ensure quarterly progress reports to the Bombay High Court and publish updates on a public portal for transparency.

7️⃣ Conclusion & Call to Action

Sanjay Gandhi National Park is not just a forest—it is the green heartbeat of Mumbai. It is our duty to preserve its biodiversity, honour its heritage, and protect its future.

We submit this petition not in confrontation, but in collaborative concern—to protect a national treasure, uphold the law, and reclaim ecological balance for generations to come.

 

 

🧹 Cleanup Drives in SGNP — Chronological Order (Most Recent First)

✅ 1. May 31, 2025 – Navapada Ground, SGNP

Organized by: Nature Forever Society + Cornerstone

Action: 17 volunteers collected 9 large bags of waste (plastic bottles, wrappers, and glass liquor bottles) before monsoon hit.

Objective: Pre-monsoon waste removal to reduce clogging and animal hazard.

🔗 Source: natureforever.org

✅ 2. March 21, 2024 – Forest Trails & Picnic Zones, SGNP

Organized by: SGNP Forest Department + Mumbai March

Action: Forest officials, schoolchildren, and citizens conducted mass cleaning of trails and water bodies.

Waste: Large volumes of plastic waste (exact figures not released).

Occasion: International Day of Forests.

🔗 Source: Field news via Mumbai March & BNHS reports

✅ 3. March 4, 2024 – SGNP Cleanup Trail (Goregaon Side)

Organized by: Mumbai March + Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)

Action: 80 volunteers collected ~140 kg of garbage, including ~70 kg of glass bottles and majority plastics.

Occasion: World Wildlife Day

🔗 Source: natureforever.org

✅ 4. January–April 2019 – Chunapada Tribal Hamlet in SGNP

Organized by: Afroz Shah + WCS-India + SGNP Staff

Action: Community-based solid waste management, with weekly cleanups and composting sessions.

Plastic Removed: Over 20,000 kg of mixed garbage, largely plastic waste.

Impact: Reduced human-leopard conflict due to waste reduction.

🔗 Source: Hindustan Times

✅ 5. 2011–2012 – Early Grassroots Movement (Entire SGNP)

Organized by: Gopal Jhaveri + Residents (Borivali-based group)

Action: After witnessing a deer die from plastic ingestion, a group began cleanups across SGNP.

Plastic Removed: Nearly 80,000 kg (80 tonnes)

Legacy: Sparked environmental awareness and future NGO drives.

🔗 Source: Planet Custodian

 

Your immediate intervention is not only expected—it is essential.

📢 If you care about Mumbai’s lungs, wildlife, and legacy—sign and share this petition now. Let’s act before it’s too late. #SaveSGNP