Netizens Say ¡®Damage Already Done¡¯, SC ¡®Too Late¡¯ In Saving Aarey
The decision, however, came after at least 2134 trees have already been chopped.
After reeling cries over the past two days by pro-environment groups and concerned citizens who protested against the felling of trees in Mumbai¡¯s Aarey Colony, the Supreme Court on Monday ordered that no more trees should be cut while also recording an undertaking by the Maharashtra government to assure the same.
The decision, however, came after at least 2134 trees have already been chopped.
On the intervening nights of October 4 and 5, a dangerous precedent was set by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) as it began axing the trees when nothing but the darkness prevailed. The move which came after the Bombay High Court dismissed all petitions against the felling of over 2,500 trees in Aarey for a metro depot attracted the ire of environment activists who thronged Aarey colony in large numbers to register their protest.
But the imposition of Section 144 of the IPC gave the MMRC a free pass to carry out the assault whereas 29 protesting citizens were detained.
As the Supreme Court orders hit the headlines early Monday morning, netizens found themselves caught in a strange fix as they could not decide whether to celebrate or express regret as the damage had already been done.
People from several walks of life, including celebrities and key figures from political and sports arenas, along with common people, took to Twitter to express their dismay.
¡°Operation Successful -Patient Dead¡± Sum & Substance of today¡¯s Supreme Court hearing on #Aarey
¡ª Jaiveer Shergill (@JaiveerShergill) October 7, 2019
Congratulations on proving mahaul of rich like you is more important than lives of ordinary Mumbaikar. Know you have blood of ordinary people (dying in overcrowded locals ) on your hands!
¡ª mayurwrites (@freentglty) October 7, 2019
The Aarey Activist and protestors lost today irrespective of the stay order and any future decision by the SC. This statement by the Solicitor General is the answer to why trees were chopped down in the middle of the night.#AareyForest #AareyKillerDevendra https://t.co/UE5is7lOwI
¡ª Rohit Kumar Singh ?? (@ks_rohit10) October 7, 2019
SC directive on Aarey forest is a great victory for protesters. But the govt says whatever trees were to be cut has already cut. #AareyForest
¡ª Rabi Das (@RabiDasOdisha) October 7, 2019
I see no point in the joy. The damage has already been done, most of the #AareyForest trees have been felled by the time SC interfered. Too late. #aarey
¡ª Asheem PK (@peekeymon) October 7, 2019
Ma'am damage is already done by cutting trees. Authorities have taken fast action during Court holidays.
¡ª CA Ramchandra Mahuli (@rammahuli) October 7, 2019
The court had convened special sitting by converting a representation by a group of law students into a Public Interest Litigation. In the meanwhile, Section 144 was lifted in the run up to the urgent hearing of the case but was imposed once again.
