Even As Thousands Protest To Save Aarey Forest, Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Says Trees Must Go

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has declined to bow down to pressure from environmentalists and activists who have been protesting to save the Aarey Forest, ever since the news of 2703 trees being razed spread.

On Friday, Fadnavis come out in support of the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited¡¯s (MMRCL) plan to cut 2,703 trees in Aarey Colony, despite massive opposition.

He said that every tree cut will ¡°pain¡± him. He, however, defended the decision saying that the metro project will compensate for the ecological damage caused by tree-felling by drastically reducing the carbon footprint of commuting.

The Supreme Court has earlier said that land where trees will be cut is not a part of the forest.

BCCL

The Tree Authority¡¯s decision to approve felling of trees has been opposed by eminent personalities such as Lata Mangeshkar and political outfit Shiv Sena.

¡°The issue went right up to the Supreme Court and court gave a ruling that the area where the trees are being cut is not a forest. The underground metro project would mitigate carbon footprints to an extent that otherwise would require as many as two crore full grown trees to be planted in Mumbai, which is impossible,¡± the CM said, reported Mumbai Mirror.

BCCL

The CM clarified that MMRCL would re-plant 500 trees and the government itself would plant 3,000 trees.

He said that it is a misconception that trees are being cut and that forest is being destroyed. He said that there is a need to strike a balance between development and environment, ¡°which they are doing¡±.

Activists have warned that razing trees will lead to more floods.

MMRCL¡¯s decision has led to protests across the city with people coming out with placards braving the rain. The Tree Authority gave the approval without any debate last week, prompting two tree experts to resign.