Mumbai: NGO claims car shed being moved back to Aarey

Trees felled for the car shed at Aarey, in Oct 2019. Pic/Sameer Markande

Vanashakti non-profit organisation has written to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about the inaction to connect Metro Lines 3 and 6 to save Aarey, and alleged that activities suggest that the plan is to move the car shed location back inside Goregaon's green lung. The NGO has also sent a video to the CM, which, it claims, shows that the Metro lines will end on the land at the previously proposed car shed site.

‘Losing hope'

"We have waited for almost two years to see any work happening on the ground towards connecting the lines. We are aware of the Kanjurmarg litigation... The work on the ground inside Aarey is clearly pointing towards moving the shed to its previously proposed location inside Aarey. We humbly wish to remind you that people have fought long, hard and bitter battles to secure Aarey... However, the vexed issue, the car shed, is far from getting resolved and we are losing our hope..." states the letter also addressed to environment minister Aaditya Thackeray and Maharashtra chief secretary Debashish Chakraborty.

Under-construction Metro Line 6 in Jogeshwari. File Pic/Satej Shinde

In the letter, the NGO claimed to have proof that the Kanjurmarg litigation is a deliberate attempt "to stall the shifting of the car shed out of Aarey... We feel that narrow mindsets driven by political gains and vested interests in the central government have created stumbling blocks in the completion of the Metro projects of Mumbai".

‘Use your acquisition power'

The letter adds that the green activists are also intrigued why the MVA government has not used its powers of acquisition to acquire the land at Kanjurmarg for the integrated depot project. "...The court case [over Kanjurmarg land] is also not moving and we have reason to believe that none of the contesting parties have shown any interest to move the matter to resolve the stalemate. The court can pass an order only if the parties demand a proper judgment and disposal of the case. The matter may then go to the Supreme Court and another round of litigation will happen. All this can be avoided if the state uses its powers of land acquisition," it reads.

The NGO said that it was shocked to see the BMC build "roads and drainage channels inside the plot that is barricaded and has wildlife inside it". It said, "The promise of the MVA government was to restore the site, remove the landfilling and allow it to remain as floodplain and natural catchment of the Mithi river. Instead, further construction is happening inside the plot." "Please order an immediate halt to all activities of MMRCL inside Aarey till the car shed site is finalised... There is increased restlessness in people's minds and this could culminate in further peaceful protests," it said.