Tribals apprise BMC of aarey destruction

Mumbai: Tribal and activists have pleaded Tree Authority members of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) visiting Aarey Colony to spare the thousands of trees that are proposed to be removed for the Metro 3 corridor. The TA was inspecting the 2,702 trees slated to be removed for the metro car shed and said 82,000 applications filed against the proposal is huge. The members assured the public gathered there that Aarey would be saved.

While 2,238 trees have been proposed to be cut, 464 trees are set for transplantation. The tree authority team consisted of ten corporators and two expert members. The TA took notice of the flood plains at the metro car shed, which has been filled up with mud up to 15 feet and trees buried under it. It also observed that a plot measuring five hectares which was also subjected to landfilling despite the state government’s direction to keep it untouched.

Zoru Bhathena, a Mumbai based activist, who was also present at the site said, “It was good that the TA members inspected the plot and saw the ground situation for themselves. They also saw one of corners of the densely forested plot.”

Hinting at further keeping the tree-cutting permissions on hold, a member of TA said, “We received 82,000 applications against the proposal, which is indeed a huge number. There has been public outrage for saving Aarey, we will do our best so that greenery of Aarey is preserved.”