Heavy protests over destruction of Aarey

In a huge setback to the environment, the Bombay High Court on Friday declared that Aarey is not a forest. That meant Mumbai civic authorities can cut down almost 2500 trees for the metro project. Soon after the court declaration, Mumbai civic authorities brought JCB’s and bulldozers to cut down the trees bu night. Environmentalists who protests were detained. More than 300 trees have already been cut before a further petition could be submitted at the Supreme Court of India. The incident sparked controversy with the insensitivity of Mumbai civic authorities coming to light.

PM talks about climate change&sustainable development at Global Platforms&Fadnavis Govt is cutting trees on a large scale in Aarey,which will severely affect the environment. Why is BJP Govt so eager to destroy the ecosystem of Mumbai & put so many lives at stake?-Rajiv Satav, Former Congress Leader.

Environmentalists wanted the National Green Tribunal to hear the matter, but authorities started cutting trees before that. The entire area was cordoned off my Mumbai police. The Bombay High Court had dismissed all the four petitions against the move of cutting down trees.
Aarey forest is known as the lung of Mumbai city with over 5 lakh trees. A lot of tourists also visit the area to check out the green cover. “Activists detained, reports of the police charging at protestors with batons.. When the govt uses force on its citizens who are trying to protect the environment. What a sad, sad day!”, tweeted Congress National Convenor Ruchira Chaturvedi.

“BREAKING; Section 144 imposed in and around the Aarey area in Goregaon East in Mumbai to prevent protesters from entering the Metro car shed site, Mumbai Police spokesperson Pranay Ashok, announces”, tweeted journalist Sachin Kalbag.

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