One very troubling situation has come out of Sanjay Gandhi National Park in Mumbai where ongoing road concretisation work is raising serious alarms among residents and environmental groups . And honestly,the details of what is allegedly happening inside this protected park are quite difficult to ignore.
Reports suggest that park authorities are encasing roots of decades-old trees in concrete during renovation of internal roads and footpaths . Local resident Sanjay Patil has directly raised this issue,saying "The basic environmental norms for carrying out such work in this ecologically sensitive area are not being followed."
And this is where things become genuinely concerning.
Patil also pointed out that concretisation around tree trunks not only violates statutory requirements but also makes trees more vulnerable to falling during adverse weather conditions . In city that already sees heavy monsoon rainfall every year,that is not small thing.
Three key issues being raised in this case:
- National Green Tribunal mandates minimum of one square meter of open soil around each tree,which is reportedly being ignored.
- Recent rainfall has already led to numerous tree collapses across Mumbai,resulting in fatalities.
- Concrete surrounding tree roots restricts essential moisture and oxygen,causing root decay and deterioration.
On July 5,an 18-year-old motorcyclist tragically lost his life after a falling branch struck him in eco-sensitive area near SGNP . Arborists are directly linking this kind of incident to compromised root systems caused by excessive concrete use .
Stalin D,director of environmental NGO Vanshakti,explained the problem in very clear terms . He compared situation to placing large trees inside small,rigid vases . Trees need wide lateral root spread for stability,especially during monsoon season,and concrete completely blocks that natural process.
Honestly,when an expert has to use that kind of comparison just to explain basic tree biology to authorities managing a national park… something has gone seriously wrong somewhere.
Environmental groups are now urging park management to reconsider their entire approach to infrastructure development inside SGNP . This is not just about protecting trees for their own sake,it is directly connected to public safety on roads and footpaths that people use every day.
Anita Patil,Director of Sanjay Gandhi National Park,has so far not responded to this matter . And that silence right now is making concerned residents and advocates even more frustrated .
Whether park authorities will actually pause this work,review what has already been done,or address safety risks before next heavy rainfall… that part of this story is still completely open
