Activists to hold protest against Ministry of Environment and Forests decision

Mumbai: A collective of environmentally conscious citizens and activists, represented by Aarey Conservation Group, Save Aarey, Apna Mumbai Abhiyan will hold a peaceful protest rally against the recent decision of the Ministry of Environment and Forests to exclude 165 hectares from Aarey in its final notification of the Eco-Sensitive Zone for Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The move is aimed at allowing for construction of the yard in Aarey colony for Metro III in the city. The protest will be held on Monday at Picnic Point in Aarey Colony, and will start at 10 a.m.

The protest will be led by Vanashakti, an NGO.  The ACG and its supporters have been working for the last two years to convince authorities in the city and the state that the yard will only pave way for the slow concretisation of Aarey, the largest buffer area for SGNP, rich in wildlife and plant wealth, (home to eight leopards) and the last remaining, freely accessible green patch in the city.

The protesting organisations have been stressing that they are not against Metro III and not against development. “We have not only protested construction of the Metro car shed in Aarey, but have worked out alternative solutions, suggesting as many as seven possible sites for the carshed that will actually work out cheaper for Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation,” said Stalin D, director of Vanashakti.