Concerns regarding the growing frequency of religious and social festivities inside Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) were formally escalated this week, as a legal notice was served to the authorities responsible for the protected forest. The move was initiated by environmental organisations Vanashakti and the Yeoor Environmental Society, who have been objecting to what they describe as clear violations of judicial directives aimed at preserving the park’s fragile ecosystem.
It was conveyed through the notice, prepared by advocate Ronita Bhattacharya Bector, that the matter had been brought to the attention of multiple officials, including the SGNP director, the additional principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife, West), the principal secretary of the environment department, and the chief secretary of the revenue and forest department. The notice was issued just a day after letters of objection were dispatched to the same authorities.
The sequence of events that prompted this escalation was also highlighted. It was recalled that a Kanwar Yatra had been permitted inside the national park in July. This was followed by another religious function in August, after which political groups began pressing for the park to remain open during idol immersions. Environmentalists asserted that these actions were not only in violation of established law but also posed risks to wildlife and the natural balance within the forest.
It was underlined in the notice that the Bombay High Court had, in 2022, prohibited religious festivities, ceremonies, and any form of non-forest activity in SGNP. The ruling had been delivered to prevent ecological disturbance in an area recognised under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. Directions were specifically given to the forest department to ensure that idol immersions, processions, and gatherings did not take place inside the park.
Strong objections were raised by environmentalist Stalin, director of Vanashakti, who stated that loudspeakers, bathing rituals, and idol immersions were capable of causing direct harm to the park’s inhabitants. According to him, aquatic species such as crocodiles and reptiles could face serious threats from these practices. An inconsistency in the application of rules was also pointed out, as trekkers continued to be restricted from accessing the Dahisar riverside while religious groups were granted exceptions.
The activists demanded that a complete prohibition on such activities be enforced, supported by the deployment of forest officers and police to guarantee compliance. It was also recommended that a public notice be issued to inform citizens of the ban on non-forest activities within SGNP. In case of failure to act, it was warned that contempt of court proceedings would be initiated against the authorities. The matter has thus placed forest officials under pressure to reconcile public demands for access with legal and ecological obligations, with the prospect of judicial action looming if enforcement is not ensured.