Bombay High Court refuses to declare Mumbai's Aarey Colony forest area

Mumbai: It was said that the court will hear a petition challenging proposed felling of over 2,600 trees in this area in north Mumbai from 30 September, On friday the Bombay High Court, dismissed petitions challenging the proposed metro car shed at Aarey Colony in Mumbai and cleared the felling of over 2,600 trees to make way for the corridor.

https://twitter.com/Saileedh/status/1179998846585208832

ALSO READ: Indian Navy keen to have third aircraft carrier: Admiral Singh

Stalin Dayanand, Director of Vanashakti & Petitioner "Since the Godavarman case is pending before the Supreme Court, the remedy for declaring an area a forest relies with the Supreme Court. That's why we have been asked to approach the Supreme Court."

Environment activists are opposed to felling of trees in Aarey Colony which together with Sanjay Gandhi National Park, is known as the green lung of the metropolis.

ALSO READ: More than 600 prisoners released on Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) have argued that metro is in larger public interest, pointing out that it will wean people away from using cars, taxis and two-wheelers and result in sharp reduction in pollution.

MMRCL, in its affidavit, also said Aarey Colony was not a naturally forested area as claimed by the petitioner. The delay in construction of the car shed will cause a loss of Rs 4.23 crore per day, it said.

ALSO READ: Plea in High Court against new pet shop rules- Know more

The bench further imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Shiv Sena corporator Yashwant Jadhav, who had filed a plea against the approval granted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s tree authority.

Residents and environmentalists have been demanding that the car shed be shifted and the trees, slated to be felled be protected instead. They fear that the car depot will destroy biodiversity and pave the way for further development and land exploitation in Aarey.

ALSO READ: Coal India offers high end pumps for Patna deluge