India, April 24 -- The Maharashtra government has deployed 430 personnel from the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) to strengthen patrolling, curb encroachments and detect poaching attempts across the 103 sq km expanse of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP).

Jitendra Ramgaonkar, chief conservator of forests (wildlife), western Maharashtra, said the additional MSF personnel joined duty last week. The reinforcement comes amid mounting pressure on the park's existing workforce, which includes around 125 guards, six range forest officers, two deputy directors and a director, who are tasked with tackling encroachments, poaching and ongoing legal matters.

Encroachment removal in SGNP has been under judicial scrutiny since a writ petition fi...