Mumbai: Continuing with its protest against the proposed Metro car shed in Aarey Colony, the Congress on Friday threatened to take the agitation to the Chief Minister’s residence.
Aarey Colony, one of the city’s last green lungs, will see thousands of trees felled for the Metro 3 car shed on 30 hectare. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, a depot will be built on 21 hectare, while four hectare will be used for approach lines and depot station. Five hectare of green area will be maintained.
Two weeks ago, City Congress president Sanjay Nirupam and some environmental activists had held a press conference questioning the government’s claims that Aarey Colony doesn’t stand on forest land. Last week, The Hindu had reported that documents from the 1980s show the land belongs to the State Forest Department.
Mr. Nirupam said, “Following our allegations against the CM, the government has now declared the land as No Development Zone. This is nothing but a scam to help builders. We have joined the struggle to save Aarey and we will not let a car shed come up on this green zone.”
Activist Stalin D of NGO Vanashakti, which is part of the movement against the Metro car shed, said the government has been hiding information from the public and lying in public. “Initially, the government had said it will cut only 254 trees. It informed the court that 2,298 trees will be cut; in reality, a tender to cut 3,851 trees was issued. The government is lying even to the court and has been publishing misleading advertisements in newspapers.”