NAMED after her late husband, the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is a forest of concern for the animal rights activist, Menaka Gandhi.
Aware of the leopard menace in the city, she is, however, equally concerned about the people living dangerously close to leopard territory, and came up with this striking suggestion.
‘‘Kill the leopards or make people vacate the area around the periphery of the park,’’ Gandhi told Newsline while attending the 11th Economic Convention on sustainable economic development of Mumbai, being hosted by K C College.
She was reacting to the recent incidents of leopard attacks on humans around the national park in the suburbs.
‘‘As per the government of India’s ruling, no humans can be allowed to settle along the 10-kilometre area around any national park in the country and that applies to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park as well,” says Gandhi.
“There is no food in the forest, so the leopards have no other option but to come out of there in search of their meals. And if there are people living so close to them, it’s not their fault. Is it? ’’ she questioned. Gandhi feels that the people are in peril simply because they are encroaching on forest land.
She denies that the number of leopards has increased in the park over the last few years.
‘‘The leopards are an endangered species and there can never be too many of them,’’ she said.
President of the board representing the seven colleges that are holding the convention, builder Niranjan Hiranandani says: ‘‘We are all working towards solving environmental issues that have an impact on the metropolis as they are of relevance to the health of the citizens of the city.’’
He had earlier noted that the leopards have also been spotted in and around Powai, but people have to find an environment-friendly solution.
mumbainewsline@expressindia.com