Mumbai: After a controversy broke out about including Maharashtra Nature Park (MNP) in the Dharavi redevelopment project, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday clarified that no construction would be done in the MNP and it would remain “untouched”. There was public pressure as well to protect the MNP, one of Mumbai’s last surviving green spaces, against construction activity.
“The MNP is close to Dharavi and hence it has been shown in the Development Regulatory Plan. However, it will remain untouched and no construction will come up in the MNP,” Mr Fadnavis informed the Assembly.
On Wednesday, Shiv Sena youth leader Aaditya Thackeray visited the 41-acre MNP and criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government for including it in the Dharavi redevelopment plan.
“It is not correct to destroy the forest. We need breathing space in Mumbai,” Mr Thackeray had said. Later, he tweeted “I request the government to assign someone who loves Mumbai and understands Mumbai. Don’t monetise on our city’s green spaces. It is disgraceful to let builders build inside Mahim Nature Park.” Forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar also opposed the inclusion of the MNP in the Dharavi redevelopment project. He said that he had written to the SRA to return the forestland and not work on the redevelopment.
Last December, the redevelopment plan of MNP by the MMRDA was put on hold. The MMRDA had sought a clarification from the forest department and the state government about the extent of protected forest and/or reserved forest that covers MNP.
