MUMBAI: The Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in Maharashtra is facing a crisis of sorts due to the presence of stray dogs in the park. Therefore, the High Court on Thursday ordered the state government to formulate a policy for the immediate rehabilitation of these illegal hutment holders. The court also said that the policy will facilitate the rehabilitation of these hutment owners and make the national park encroachment-free.
A bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay and Justice Amit Borkar also hoped that the matter would be resolved at the earliest by a high-level committee constituted for the purpose and eligible slum dwellers would be rehabilitated. A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed by Samyak Janhit Sewa Sangstha seeking permanent rehabilitation of illegal hutment owners who have been living in the national park for years. The issue of illegal huts in the national park had reached the High Court in 1997 and 1999. While disposing of the petitions, the court had then ordered the removal of encroachments in the national park and rehabilitation of eligible hutment holders.
However, they have not been rehabilitated yet. On the contrary, the petitioners have claimed that for the past several years, the hutment owners have been leading a miserable life due to lack of basic amenities. They have also demanded his reinstatement. During Thursday's hearing in the case, eligible slum dwellers whose previous order is in force and who have deposited the reserve amount will be rehabilitated. State Advocate General Birendra Saraf told the court that 11,000 hutment owners have been rehabilitated so far and the rest of the hutment owners have not yet been rehabilitated due to some technical reasons. The process of rehabilitation has begun. But their rehabilitation project was stalled due to altitude restrictions in the flight path of the aircraft. Bids were invited six times. However, he did not respond. However, a high-powered committee under the chairmanship of the Forest Minister was constituted in July 2023 to address how the rehabilitation process can be expedited. The Advocate General also told the court that various remedies are being explored by the committee.
On it, qualified hutholders are ready to vacate the premises. Therefore, the court said that there is an urgent need to formulate a policy for their rehabilitation and it is in the interest of the government. The court also said that if these hutment owners are rehabilitated, the land in the national park will be free from encroachment and the hutment owners will also be rehabilitated. He also directed a high-level committee to look into the issue.
16,929 eligible hutment holders are waiting.
In 1999, on the orders of the High Court, it was ordered to relocate the hutment holders before 1 January 1995 to Kalyan. Accordingly, about 33 thousand citizens were found to be eligible for immigration. The court had ordered to pay Rs 7,000 as rehabilitation cost to the eligible hutment owners. A committee was also constituted to look into the matter. Subsequently, 11,380 slum dwellers who had not deposited their deposits till 2014 were shifted to Chandivali. However, the petitioners have claimed that 16,929 eligible hutment holders who have paid the reserve amount as well as 4,691 hutment holders who have not deposited the amount have not yet been rehabilitated