According to officials from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), the 90 acres of land set aside for the rehabilitation of tribal families and slum residents in the area will not belong to the 825 acres of land that has been earmarked to go under reserve forests at Aarey. Officials added that the rehabilitation of residents will go ahead as planned.
Additional Principal Conservator of Forest, Wildlife (West), Sunil Limaye, “According to the plan, 43 acres will be used to rehabilitate close to 2,000 tribal families from SGNP in 300 sq ft houses with an open courtyard and terrace. Tribals have asked for a house with a courtyard and not high-rises. Slum residents will be resettled in 300 sq ft apartments on the remaining area.”
As per the Indian Forest Act, 1927, when an area is categorized under reserve forests, it cannot be used for commercial purposes. When the land in question attains reserve forests status, it can later be integrated with SGNP.
Read - Maha CM Uddhav Thackeray Directs Authorities To Withdraw Charges Against Aarey Protesters
Earlier this year, the Maharashtra Government transferred the land portion to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). It is said that 28,951 illegally built structures are currently situated within and around SGNP spanning a total of 2,780 acres in space. Officials also clarified that the changes will not be applicable to the contentious Aarey metro car shed site.
The Bombay High Court in 2009 had ordered the removal of the illegal establishments in the region while also directing the government to rehabilitate the residents.
Officials familiar with the matter have said that the state’s notification on declaring the 800 acres of space as part of reserve forests in the Aarey colony will likely come before the end of this month. They added that this new notification by the government will clear all doubts with regard to the included areas.
Also read - SGNP To Get 800 Acres Of Forest Area In Aarey
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