08 February,2024 07:02 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
The wall is being constructed adjacent to the religious structure
While the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) authorities are trying to protect every inch of the 812 acres that have been declared as forest in Aarey Milk Colony, the issue of encroachment seems to be a worry. One such encroachment is a religious structure for which political pressure is being used to prevent forest department from constructing the protection wall.
A nature lover from Aarey said, "The forest department is making efforts to protect the 812 acres of area that has been declared as forest in Aarey Milk Colony, but there are some religious structures that have encroached on the forest land. They want to grab the land and so they are using political pressure and creating obstacles in the forest department work."
Sources from the forest department told mid-day that one such religious structure is located near the Gaodevi temple behind Aarey market where the devotees are against construction of the protection wall.
"A group that is associated with a religious structure has requested us to leave some space adjacent to their structure and then construct the protection wall. They want us to leave some space and shift the protection wall boundary as they claim that the space is used for their annual pooja. The area comes under our jurisdiction, how can we leave the space? We have no intention to hurt any religious sentiments but have to make it clear that we are doing our duty⦠we cannot leave the space as requested by them," said a forest department official. It has also been alleged that the group is trying to exert political pressure. A delegation of devotees had even gone to meet senior forest department officials in this regard.
Meanwhile, another religious group has also requested the forest department to leave some space at another location while constructing the protection wall. The forest department has declined their request.
812 acres
Area of forest land in Aarey
