SGNP master plan seeks to boost eco-tourism through controlled development in Park

Of the SNGP’s total boundaries which spans 104 km, nearly 59.456 km area is categorised as an eco-sensitive zone. While the SGNP is spread over three districts of Mumbai, Thane and Palghar, the largest portion of the eco-sensitive zone–35 km–falls under the jurisdiction of the BMC.

According to the draft ZMP released on Wednesday, of the total area categorised as eco-sensitive, nearly 33 percent is accounted as developed area while over 66 percent is categorised as undeveloped area. The developed land encompasses 138 hectares involved in commercial use, 146 hectares of land or 2.49 percent being used for industrial activity, 184 hectares being used by slums and 256 hectares used for residential purposes. Further, nearly three percent each is reserved for public use and transport facilities.

Meanwhile, an analysis of the undeveloped zone, which accounts for 66 percent of the eco-sensitive zone, reveals that only 34.54 percent of the total land or 2032 hectares is encompassed by green area (forest). The rest of the undeveloped land include water bodies which account for nine percent of the ESZ while seven percent of the eco-sensitive zone is used for agricultural purposes.

It is in a bid to protect the integrity of this expansive eco-sensitive zone that the BMC has now prepared a draft Zonal Master Plan for the ESZ inside the SNGP. According to its notice, the ZMP was prepared in light of the MOEFCC’s December 2016 notification which directed the state government to prepare a zonal master plan for eco-sensitive zones in consultation with local people. Following this, the State Wildlife Board (SWLB) in a meeting with the chief minister in December 2020 called for the creation of a ZMP for the SNGP. In 2021, the Principal Secretary (Forest) also said that the BMC chief will steer the Monitoring Committee as the chairman to prepare and submit a ZMP.

Four years later, a meeting of the ESZ’s monitoring committee in August 2025 decided to open the draft of the ZMP for public suggestions.

The draft ZMP, which was formulated through an external agency, states the proposal is aimed at regulating land use and development to minimise adverse impact as well as promote eco-friendly livelihood opportunities for local communities. It also seeks to prevent proliferation of polluting industries and harmful activities within the ESZ and ensure compliance with environmental laws and guidelines.

While the ZMP has laid down norms to prevent protected zones, it also looks at the possibility of promoting tourism within the eco-sensitive area in accordance with the MOEFCC’s norms. Within the ambit of promoted activities, the ZMP draft has recommended plans like sustainable villages, lodges, wellness centres, homestays, cottages along with nature-based activities like trekking, hiking and boating. Among other plans proposed includes medical rehabilitation and wellness centres, sanitoriums etc.

“Sanjay Gandhi National Park and its Eco Sensitive Zone offer an array of unique and significant attractions, each drawing thousands of visitors annually. However, with increasing footfall, these attractions face a variety of challenges, from environmental degradation to overcrowding. Through careful tourism planning, sustainable practices, and effective visitor management, it is possible to mitigate these issues and ensure that SGNP’s attractions remain accessible and ecologically sustainable for future generations,” reads the Tourism Master Plan which has also been laid down in the draft ZMP for the protected zone.

As the BMC–through its development plan department–invited the proposal for suggestions and objections, it said that the public can send their responses over the next 30 days. Citizens can send their suggestions on the draft plan to the BMC’s development planning department as well as to the offices of the municipal commissioners of Thane, Mira Bhayandar, Vasai Virar as well as the collector of Palghar district.