Let’s build walls that actually keep out unsavouries

Tribals residing in the colony use the land to grow crops. Pic/Satej Shinde

In light of the threat that encroachment poses to the 812-acre patch in Aarey Milk Colony that has been designated as a forest, the area will be surrounded by a cement concrete wall. The forest department will also set up the protection huts and ensure vigorous, round-the-clock foot patrolling takes place.

In a report in this paper, a Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) official stated that a five-kilometre-long cement concrete protection wall will better preserve the forest patch in the colony from encroachment. Staff patrolling the area on foot 24/7 in protection huts coming up in the area is also part of the plan.

It is good to know that there are initiatives being taken to combat the encroachment threat. Mumbaikars are surely familiar with how persistent and widespread the threat of encroachment is, everywhere.

Here, we are talking about something that is as important and iconic as Aarey, yet even a small patch of land is under threat and we will see people trying to ‘take over' under various guises.

Numerous gardens in Mumbai have had to fight off illegal encroachment. Those who want to usurp the space use all means and ruses to get into the space, and once in, it is extraordinarily difficult if not impossible to take them out. Every park, every open space then, needs constant and at times robust vigilantism and robust intervention against encroachment.

This, we are talking about Aarey and one of Mumbai's crown jewels, the SGNP. The wall should act as a physical buffer. Yet, we have witnessed that walls can be broken, too, so the patrols are one added layer guarding the periphery to ensure it is not breached.

Stress quality of material and top-class construction when making the wall and patrols must be planned and formed with an eye on consistency and longevity.