More than 11,000 residents have signed an online petition within four days to support the conservation of a 193-acre forest area adjoining Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the Manpada-Tikujiniwadi region of Thane.
Environmentalists and local citizens have launched the awareness campaign amid growing concerns over recent developments involving the forest land. Through the petition, they are demanding protection of the forest, greater transparency in decision-making, and an independent assessment of the environmental impact of any proposed activities in the area.
Campaign organizers have appealed to citizens to raise their voices and act before it is too late to save the region’s natural heritage.
According to environmental groups, the 193-acre forest serves as an important green buffer for Sanjay Gandhi National Park and plays a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity, clean air, and ecological balance in the region. The area is also known to be a habitat for leopards and several other wildlife species protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act.
Environmentalists have warned that large-scale concretisation or non-forest activities in the area could disrupt wildlife habitats, increase human-animal conflict, and damage the ecological continuity of the forest. They further cautioned that the loss of forest cover could worsen future challenges such as heat waves, flooding, and rising pollution levels.
The petition seeks public disclosure of all decisions, agreements, and understandings related to the 193-acre forest land. It also demands that the area not be diverted for any non-forest use. Additionally, campaigners have called for an independent inquiry into recent actions undertaken in the area and a comprehensive scientific and environmental assessment of the entire forest tract.
The petition, backed by thousands of citizens, is expected to be submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as part of efforts to secure long-term protection for the forest.
Also Read: Mumbai: Naigaon BDD Residents Question Home Handover Amid Water Shortage