Not Just 2,700 Trees, MMRDA Wants To Cut 29,879 Sq Ft Of Aarey Forest For 'Development'
BMC Tree Authority cleared the Mumbai Metrorail Corporation Limited's (MMRCL) proposal to cut 2,702 trees to build a metro 3-car shed in Aarey Colony and Mumbai is still protesting. Aarey forest is the only major green cover of the city and axing it down would mean an even worse flood situation in Mumbai (as if it is not bad enough). Hundreds of people braved the rain to protest against the decision.
New developments points towards the fact that the decision was taken hastily and most of the 20 committee members did not even understand what they were voting for. While all this is going on, another shocking news related to Aarey has come forward.
The beginning of the end... pic.twitter.com/F2QjfdAyAS
¡ª Raveena Tandon (@TandonRaveena) September 6, 2019
Turns out that the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) has raised a request for additional 29,879 sq ft land for a site office, 'labor camp and a casting yard for the Andheri-kanjurmarg Metro-6 line'.
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation has already taken 82 hectares of Aarey for an administrative building, a casting yard and a card shed for Cuffe Parade-Seepz Metro 3. The land for Metro 3 car shed was granted in 2014 and environmental activists feared it was the beginning of the end of Aarey, the current request by MMRDA furthers those fears.
Citizens started forming 'longest human chain' around the barricaded site for Metro 3 carshed in #Aarey . People are protesting proposed cutting of over 2600 trees in Aarey for carshed.
¡ª laxman singh (@Laxmantweetsss) September 1, 2019
Pic: from protestors#SaveAarey #SaveAareyForest @ie_mumbai @ConserveAarey pic.twitter.com/YslnGEucMy
An activist reportedly said, "There will be request for more land. And before we know it, whole of Aarey will be gone."
However, since the city has woken up to the dangers of axing of the forest in the face of very visible climate change, the battle might be a long one between the citizens and the authorities.
