The Maharashtra government has published a preliminary list of 16,478 encroachers residing inside Mumbai`s Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), marking a major chance in the rehabilitation process, officials said.
The process follows a public interest litigation order dated May 7, 1997 from the Bombay High Court.
The rehabilitation process is being carried out under the supervision of a high-powered committee formed as per the court order. The South Deputy Director of SGNP has appointed M/s Grant Thornton Bharat LLP as the official agency to conduct the survey.
A High Power Committee, formed as per the court’s directions, is supervising the process. The survey was conducted by the authorised agency Grant Thornton Bharat LLP and has now been published for public verification.
The preliminary list has been uploaded on the Forest Department website and displayed on notice boards at SGNP offices. It is also available for public viewing at the rehabilitation room for verification, the officials said.
They said the list will now be examined carefully to determine final eligibility for rehabilitation, as per the High Court’s orders and government directives.
Final opportunity to submit documents
Encroachers named in the list, as well as those living inside the park whose names are not included, have been given a final opportunity to submit the required documents and survey information.
Documents required for eligibility include proof of name in the electoral roll as on January 1, 1995, receipt of Rs 7,000 paid earlier for rehabilitation, hut number allotted by the Forest Department, proof of name in electoral roll between January 1, 1995 and January 1, 2011, voter ID and other identity documents such as Aadhaar or ration card.
Submission deadline
Documents must be submitted between February 17 and February 28, 2026, from 7:30 am to 9:30 pm, at the designated locations mentioned in the notice.
Forest officials have emphasised that only those who submit the required documents within the deadline will be considered for final eligibility.
