Illegal dumping of garbage from nearby slum areas adjoining the forest is emerging as a serious threat to the wildlife and biodiversity of Aarey Milk Colony. Nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers have warned that without a proper waste collection and disposal system, the forest could soon turn into a dumping ground.
Abhishek Patil, a Jogeshwari resident, Yuva Sena office bearer, and avid nature lover, frequently visits Aarey. During a recent visit to Durga Nagar near JVLR, he was shocked to see heaps of garbage and plastic waste dumped close to the forest. The waste, allegedly from nearby slums, poses a serious threat to wild animals, including spotted deer, who are often attracted to the garbage while foraging.
Taking note of the rampant dumping and alleged illegal hutment construction, Patil has written to the BMC commissioner and plans to write to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) director, requesting increased patrolling and strict action against those littering in the forest.
“During my visit to Durga Nagar inside Aarey, I was shocked to see massive amounts of garbage and plastic waste dumped right next to the forest patch. I’ve written to the municipal commissioner, urging immediate action to stop this environmental disaster caused by illegal dumping and encroachment in open spaces behind the houses,” Patil told mid-day.
The area, ecologically sensitive and directly connected to the Aarey forest, now part of SGNP, has seen a drastic rise in waste in recent months. “In the past six months, the amount of household garbage, debris, and plastic here has increased by over 200 per cent, as per the locals. The waste piles are polluting the soil and groundwater,” Patil added.
Locals said a spotted deer was recently seen eating plastic from a garbage heap. In similar incidents in 2018 and 2019, deer were filmed feeding from plastic-filled dumps near the park.
“Plastic causes intestinal blockages, malnutrition, and even death in animals, disrupting the park’s food chain. Reptiles are equally at risk, a snake was recently found dead after getting trapped in a plastic bottle. In March 2025, a cobra was also injured by a bottle cap in Mulund. Such man-made traps endanger wildlife and fuel human-animal conflict,” said Patil.
He also alleged that illegal construction of temporary cattle sheds and hutments is on the rise in Durga Nagar, adding to encroachment pressures on forest land. Garbage collection and disposal remain a major issue in Aarey Colony, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Chief Executive Officer of Aarey.
