Mumbai: Shifting of Aarey metro car shed will accrue financial benefits of Rs 9,600 crore, says environmentalist Dilip Boralkar

MUMBAI: Leading environmentalist Dilip Boralkar on Tuesday that government’s decision to shift metro car shed from Aarey to Kanjur marg will accrue whopping financial benefits of Rs 9,600 crore.
"This amount is far more than the extra money that might be spent additionally due to change of location of metro car shed from Aarey to Kanjur marg," Boralkar, a former member of the Supreme Court monitoring committee for protection of environment, told ToI.
Elaborating his contention, Boralkar said more than 800 acres of forest land is saved due to shifting of location of the metro car shed from Aarey to Kanjur marg.
"Assuming that there will be 400 trees per acre, there would be protection of 3.2 lakh trees. It is estimated that one public tree in its life time of 20 years brings ecological benefits worth Rs 3 lakh, when monetized in terms of oxygen emission, bio-shelter, soil and water conservation, shade in summer, cooling impact and carbon fixation. As a result, total benefits arising out of 800 acres forest land will accrue financial benefits of Rs 9600 crore,’’ Boralkar said.
Boralkar pointed out that the CM must fix the responsibility on bureaucrats selecting Aarey land for the car shed.
``I think, the report of the expert committee was crystal clear. It was specifically mentioned that ecologically and from the point of environment, Aarey was not a suitable place and that Kanjur marg will be the best choice. Despite such a situation, still the bureaucrats misled the then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who succumbed to the bureaucratic pressure,’’ Boralkar said.