Aarey Colony handover to forest department to be done before monsoon: Officials

Forest officials said they want to especially protect a well-forested, encroachment-free patch in Aarey. File pic

Even as environmentalists and nature lovers have been questioning the delay in handing over Aarey Milk Colony to the Forest Department, highly placed sources in the department told mid-day that the process is expected to be complete before monsoon.

A senior official from the Forest Department, on condition of anonymity, said, "The process of handing over the 808 acres of forest patch in Aarey Milk Colony has begun and before the monsoon, it would be completed. We have already sent a proposal to our authorities to give a forester and four guards for the colony. We will get the workforce soon."

A huge chunk of the 808 acre-land is completely forested without any encroachment. As such, the department wants to protect it and ensure it stays that way.
"Once we get the land, we would start foot patrolling in the area to prevent encroachment. Drones will also be used to map the area. After monsoon, we will also mark the area that will be in our jurisdiction," the official said.

What's taking so long?

City-based nature lovers, environmentalists and people associated with the Save Aarey cause have been unhappy at the delay in the handing over as the MVA government had declared the colony as a forest several months ago.

Environmentalist and a member of Aarey Conservation Group, Stalin D, said, "Extreme eagerness and proactive behaviour are seen when projects like coastal road are involved. But when it comes to conserving Aarey, there is extreme reluctance to act. We fail to understand how much time or resources are needed to appoint two forest officials and four labourers to protect Aarey. If the government is so poor and cannot afford the salaries, they can always appeal to corporates and citizens to contribute. Merely making announcements for protecting Aarey have not helped the ground situation in any way. Fires and encroachment are increasing by the day while the MVA government is dilly-dallying. We expect this government to do much better for conservation."

Activist Zoru Bhathena said, "The very first decision of our CM was to protect Aarey, for which we are grateful. But even after a year and a half since then, we are yet to see actual results. The moving out of the depot is still shrouded in uncertainty. The final declaration of forest (Phase 1) is pending and the notification to declare it as a forest (Phase 2) is pending. Withdrawal of cases filed against innocent people who spoke up to protect the trees is pending. The intent to save Aarey may be very good but the final execution is not. Aarey deserves better."

Oct
Month in 2020 CM announced 800 acres in Aarey colony as Reserve Forest