Updated: October 11, 2020 3:55:26 pm
Massive protests broke out overnight against late-night tree felling by Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) on October 25 last year.
Maharashtra Prime Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced Sunday the relocation of the Metro booth project in Aarey, which has been at the center of a storm since October last year, and also said that cases against activists protesting against cutting down trees for the project had been dropped.
Addressing the state via webcast, Thackeray said the project would now move to government land in Kanjurmarg. “Aarey’s car shed will move to Kanjurmarg. We have allocated government land for the car shed for Rs 0. We will not spend a rupee to acquire this land, ”he said.
CM Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray addressing the State https://t.co/E8qhmRTulz
– CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) October 11, 2020
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) had started felling trees in the Aarey colony on October 25 last year to build a shed for the Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro underground corridor of Rs 32,000 crore. Several activists, who had gathered at the scene to protest, were detained by the police. An FIR was registered against 29 people. After being sworn in as Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray had suspended work on the car shed.
The Aarey Forest Area in Mumbai after 2,134 trees were cut down. (Express photo)
Thackeray said he also said that the Department of Home had withdrawn registered cases against citizens and environmentalists who protested the Aarey project last year.
“Before the elections to the assembly, we had opposed it. There were protests, trees were cut down at night, protesters were arrested. The government has decided to withdraw the crimes registered against them, ”said the supreme Shiv Sena.
Explained: Why did Uddhav Thackeray decide to create a reserved forest within Mumbai?
Thackeray said the building that had arisen in the Aarey Forest would be used for some other public purpose. “An expense of approximately Rs 100 million was incurred for this purpose and it will not be wasted,” he said.
Protests erupted last year over the felling of more than 2,000 trees to make way for the Metro car shed in the Aarey neighborhood (Express photo)
More than 800 acres of Aarey land, adjacent to Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP), has already been declared reserve forest, 200 acres more than the 600 acres previously proposed. According to the provisions of the Indian Forests Act 1927, once this area is declared as reserve forest, the land is no longer available for development.
Aarey saved!
– Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) October 11, 2020
“There will be no infringement of the rights of the tribes in the Aarey forest,” he added. “Biodiversity in Aarey must be conserved and protected. Nowhere is there an 800-acre jungle in an urban setting. Mumbai has a natural forest cover, ”he said.
Aaditya Thackeray, who has vigorously protested the proposed car shed, tweeted, “Aarey Saved.” Former prime minister and opposition leader Devendra Fadnavis recently said that the state government’s plan to relocate Aarey’s Metro 3 car shed was a reflection of incorrect policy.
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