Mumbai: Aarey tribals move to secure forest rights, raise concerns over ESZ plan

Residents and Adivasi communities associated with the Aarey Forest Rights Committee of PSouth Ward in Goregaon on Tuesday held a Maha Gram Sabha in Aareys Maroshi Pada to submit Community Forest Rights CFR claims under the Forest Rights Act 2006The meeting was attended by officials from the Forest Department Borivali Tehsil Office project authorities and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC along with representatives of tribal organisations from Mumbai Palghar and ThaneDuring the gathering participants voiced concerns over the BMCs Eco Sensitive Zone ESZ Zonal Master Plan alleging that it fails to adequately recognise the traditional and legal rights of Adivasi communities living in Aarey the Sanjay Gandhi National Park SGNP region and other ecosensitive areasCommunity representatives said Adivasi groups from Aarey Yeoor Waghle Estate SGNP and Dahisar have submitted Community Forest Rights claims to formally establish their rights over forests and adjoining ecosensitive landscapesThey also opposed several projects proposed under the ESZ Zonal Master Plan claiming that further development and construction activities could adversely affect forest ecosystems and the communities that depend on them for their livelihoodsForest is central to our livelihoodAkash Bhoir a tribal resident of Keltipada said the gram sabha brought together residents from 21 tribal hamlets within the PSouth division to discuss and advance collective forest rights claims covering the Aarey Maroshi and Prajapur areasThe forest is integral to our livelihood We depend on it for firewood wild roots forest vegetables crabs and fish Bhoir saidHe added that community members have prepared a detailed map documenting the forest areas they traditionally use including indigenous place names that existed before the development of Aarey The map was presented to government officials including representatives from the tehsil office project authorities BMC and the Forest DepartmentParticipants also used the map to explain their collective forest rights claim to both officials and local residentsConcerns over Eco Sensitive Zone planEnvironmentalist Amrita Bhattacharjee of the Aarey Conservation Group said a 2015 government order recognises both individual and community forest rights of Adivasi communities residing in forests located within municipal corporation limitsShe alleged that the final ESZ Zonal Master Plan for the SGNP does not adequately acknowledge these rightsThe plan seeks to facilitate more construction and concretisation within forest areas of the national park and its ecosensitive zone It is encouraging to see Adivasi communities taking the initiative to protect Aareys forests by asserting their community rights over these lands she saidThe Maha Gram Sabha concluded with community members reiterating their demand for recognition of forest rights and greater consultation in decisions affecting ecosensitive and forested areas