Aarey Metro car shed: ‘Mumbaikars will take to the streets again’

As the day-old Maharashtra government's deputy CM announced that Aarey would most certainly be home to the Metro car depot, the city's green activists met with various stakeholders of the Save Aarey movement to discuss the further strategy. Meanwhile, citizens, who had protested against the project before former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray moved it to Kanjurmarg, have warned of mass agitation.

Sumit Singh, a nature lover who participated in the protest before, said, "I am personally unhappy with the fact that the new government wants to bring back the car depot to Aarey Milk Colony. Aarey forest and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) are green lungs of Mumbai. We will continue opposing the new government's proposal to construct a car depot in Aarey, and protest, if needed."

Arun Siddhu, another Mumbaikar, said, "This decision taken by the new government only shows the fact that they are least bothered about climate change or environment protection. Instead, they are more interested in settling political scores. We will come out in large numbers and oppose this move by the new government."

For future generations

Jalpesh Mehta, the founder and chairperson of NGO Empower Foundation, said, "Mumbai is the fourth most polluted megacity according to the World Health Organisation. Aarey is the green lungs of Mumbai with rich wildlife and biodiversity and needs to be protected for the citizens and our future generations. Metro 3 is equally needed in Mumbai, but a shed to wash and maintain the trains need not come to Aarey. An integrated depot should be built at Kanjurmarg, which is technically feasible and cost-saving."

Environment activist Abhay Azad said, "Appreciate Uddhav-ji's statement for Aarey forest. His party members, volunteers and Yuva Sena should also come forward and join the cause on the ground and strengthen the moment with the Mumbaikars who dearly care for their trees and environment."

Environmentalist Stalin D from NGO Vanashakti, who is also a member of Aarey Conservation Group, said, "The honest desire of former CM Uddhav Thackeray reflects in his speech. He had resolved the issue of the car shed and shown the world that sustainable development was possible. The Kanjurmarg depot was vital, and it would save four important ecological spots. No forest would have been sacrificed if his vision was implemented. He failed because a hostile bureaucracy, which was conniving with people with vested interests, thwarted the noble intentions.

An ego clash

"It is more than evident that Devendra Fadnavis has nothing, but personal revenge on his agenda and is willing to sacrifice Aarey forests to massage his bruised ego. People from all walks of life selflessly fought to save Aarey. They will reunite once again and resist this needless and avoidable destruction of Aarey, which in reality is part of the appeasement of the builder lobby by Fadnavis and the Eknath Shinde Sena."

Green Activist Zoru Bhathena said, "Uddhav Thackeray ji tried his best to take the depot out of Aarey. But his hands and legs were tied up by both the central government and the rebellion for far too long." The government officials, whom mid-day approached to question the grounds for reversing the decision, refused to comment. It must be noted that the car depot plot is not part of the 812-acre area declared as forest by the previous government.