Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]July 10 (ANI): People on Sunday took to the streets in Mumbai to protest against the Eknath Shinde government’s decision to resume the construction of a Metro car shed in the forest of Aarey Colony, claiming that the project was developed at the cost of forest area. being done. ,
The Aarey Forest, an area of 1,800 acres, is often referred to as the “green lung” of the city.
Soon after Eknath Shinde was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra and Deputy Chief Minister of BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis, the state government directed the Advocate General to build a Metro car shed in Mumbai’s Aarey Colony.
Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray also took part in the protest on Sunday and said it was a fight for Mumbai and its forest life.
“Under our government, we had declared 808 acres of land as forest. We fought for the forests to protect our tribals. No trees were cut when we were here.
Claiming that Metro cars go for maintenance every three-four months and not every night, the government can afford to build a shed at Kanjurmarg.
He said that if sheds are built in Kanjurmarg, along with tribal life and wealth, forest life will also be safe.
He further added, “Whatever their (Maharashtra government) anger against us, they should not take it out on the city. We need to preserve forests and environment with climate change. We have converted the construction into a veterinary hospital for the forest.” was proposed.
Earlier on July 3, Aaditya Thackeray had urged the newly inducted Eknath Shinde government to scrap the revamped Aarey Metro project, which has been a vexing issue in the city for many years.
In September 2019, the then Chief Minister of Maharashtra Devendra Fadnavis had said that the government was obliged to cut trees in Mumbai’s Aarey forest area because “development is important”.
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) announced its plan to cut over 2,700 trees from Aarey Colony to build a car shed for the Metro. The colony, spread over 13,000 hectares, is home to 27 tribal villages and is home to various animal species.
In September 2019, the Bombay High Court orally directed MMRCL and the state government not to cut any trees in the Aarey forest area for the construction of a metro car shed, to which they agreed.
Later in October 2019, the Bombay High Court dismissed all petitions against a proposal to cut over 2,500 trees in Mumbai’s Aarey Colony to make way for a Metro car shed.
However, the Maharashtra government put a stay on the order for the Aarey Metro car shed project following a massive public agitation in the city.
In 2020, the then Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced that the state government had withdrawn the cases registered against people protesting the proposed metro car shed in Aarey. He had said that the proposed car shed has been shifted from Aarey to Kanjurmarg.
The new Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra has proposed to shift the Metro car shed project back to Mumbai’s Aarey forest. (ANI)
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