Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Tanaji Ruikar Vs State of Maharashtra & Others dated 10/06/2021.

Grievance in the application is against proposed toy train activity in Amrai garden at Sangli, Maharashtra. The garden earlier owned by Appasaheb Patvardhan has 200 varieties of different trees, plants and shrubs of medicinal value - tamarind, coconut, almond, deodar, casurina, mangos and many other varieties. It is also home to rare birds and small animals. In 1975, the garden management was transferred to the Municipal Corporation Sangli under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) stipulating that the garden would remain only a garden and no structure would be installed therein without approval of the Collector. However, the Municipal Corporation decided to set up toy train for the children on contract basis in spite of opposition by the citizens.

The Tribunal directed the Collector, Sangli to look into the matter and ensure that necessary safeguards are adopted for maintaining the environment in the garden if the toy train is set up.