Save Aarey: Over 2,500 Tribals Along With Mumbaikars Take Out Rally To Celebrate World Tribal Day
In a massive show of strength, over 2,500 tribals (adivasis) along with locals took out a rally in support of aarey forest area in Mumbai on the occasion of World Tribal Day.
Aarey dwellers celebrate on World Tribal Day
Known as mool nivasis (natives) of Mumbai, the Aarey dwellers performed their traditional dance to sounds of tarpa and dhol.?They dressed in their colourful attire adorning flowers and leaves on their heads. Celebrations aside, they have made amply clear that?they exist, they can fight and they are united.?
On the other hand, Mumbaikars who joined the rally carried posters of 'Quit Aarey Forest', 'No Metro 3 car shed in Aarey', 'Save Aarey Forest' in the view of recent cutting of trees that have taken place in the area. Children could be seen enjoying in the rain as it continued to drizzle.
Though the tribal groups could be seen celebrating, they are still at the mercy of the government when it comes to the construction in the area.
'Save Aarey' protests post cutting of trees
On July 24, environment groups in more than 15 cities across the country called for a nationwide protest in solidarity with the protesters of the Save Aarey movement. Demonstrations were held in Nagpur, Delhi, Jaipur, Varanasi, Hyderabad and Agra, among other cities and towns.
This came after the authorities gave green nod to cutting of trees in the aarey region.
What Mumbai Metro said in SC
However, on August 5,?The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MMRCL) told the Supreme Court that no cutting of trees in the Aarey forest area in Mumbai has been undertaken since 2019, adding that only weeds and bushes were removed by the authorities.
Senior advocate Chander Uday Singh, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that the tree cutting has resumed in the Aarey region for the metro car shed project, despite the status quo orders of the top court in 2019.
What the plea alleged in SC
The plea alleged that the authorities have started cutting trees again despite there being a stay order of the court.
In 2019, the Supreme Court asked the Maharashtra government to stop cutting trees in the Aarey forest area and directed it to maintain the status quo.
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