Mumbai: State Forest minister Ganesh Naik has announced that a meeting will be held on Wednesday to discuss the issue of rehabilitation of tribals of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).The issue of rehabilitation was raised through a calling attention motion in the Legislative Council by BJP’s Pravin Darekar, who said the tribals were against being rehabilitated in Aarey Colony. Darekar said there were two private plots available in Ketakipada, Dahisar, which is in SGNP. He said the plot owners were willing to hand over the land to the govt in exchange for Transfer of Development Rights (TDR). Darekar demanded the govt acquire the plots and rehabilitate the tribals there.Naik said the issue of encroachment was planned to be resolved in a phased manner. He said in Phase I, 11,359 encroachers were to be rehabilitated, but 299 were yet to be rehabilitated. In Phase II, 13,486 encroachers were to be rehabilitated. “There is a proposal to rehabilitate 2,200 tribal families by constructing ground plus 1 structures for them on 20 acres of land in Aarey Colony,” he said.Darekar also raised complaints of alleged high-handed behaviour on the part of conservator and director of SGNP Anita Patil. He demanded she be transferred. Other MLCs too said they received complaints against the official. “Abhinav Nagar residents filed an FIR with the Kasturba Police against the forest dept for encroachment on their land,” said Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab. Both Chitra Wagh and Manisha Kayande demanded action against the official.Darekar said till govt provides rehabilitation, residents cannot be denied basic infrastructure such as electricity meters and tap water. He demanded action against Patil for not allowing repairs to be carried out.Naik said Patil was warned, and if she did not change her manner of interaction with the public, she would be transferred out.
