To stop the felling of 2700 trees for the construction of a metro car shed at Aarey Colony
Why is this important?
Aarey Colony in Mumbai is the city's last remaining stretches of tree cover. Now, 2700 trees are being felled to accommodate a car shed for the Mumbai Metro - III project.
Though the National Green Tribunal recently dismissed the petition against the cutting of trees, the case is pending in the High Court. The public hearing is scheduled for October 10.
Over the past weekend, around 120 trees were chopped by MMRCL (Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited) officials, without the presence or permissions from any tree officials. When activists protested, they were detained by Aarey Colony police. This completely unacceptable!
We have until October 10 to send in our objections and suggestions to the BMC. These complaints will then be forwarded to MMRCL.
Sign now to send in your objections against the merciless axing of trees at Aarey Colony.
Sources:
1. http://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-for-metro-32700-trees-to-be-cut-in-aarey-colony/1365118
2. https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/aarey-locals-protest-tree-cutting-detained/articleshow/66011691.cms
Email body
To
Mr Jitendra Pardeshi
Superintendent of Garden Department & Tree Authority,
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
Sub : Objections to the cutting of 2238 trees at Aarey Colony for Metro-3
Sir,
This is with reference to the recent Public Notice published by you inviting objections and suggestions under Section 8(3) of the Maharashtra (Urban Area) Protection & Preservation of Tree Act, 1975, for the removal of 2238 trees at Aarey Colony for the Metro 3 Project.
The following are the relevant observations of Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by Maple Consortium in January 2016 for the Mumbai Metro 3 Project.
- Mumbai is reeling under the effects of overpopulation, and reducing green cover. Wildlife is going extinct. The city does not have any forests in the true sense, except Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which extends over an area of about 19.18 sq. km.
- Maple Consortium’s Environment Impact Assessment for the Mumbai Metro 3 Project has virtually declared that Aarey Milk Colony does not have any wildlife, which is factually incorrect, since Aarey is a Forest and the same is evident from the revenue record 7/12 Extracts which shows the entry as Reserved Forest.
- The loss of any tree, native or alien, will lead to the loss of the basic regulating services that it provides such as carbon sequestration, temperature regulation, water regulation and primary production. The tree survey also records a few dead trees. Standing dead-wood serves as a preferred perch for birds of prey, and also as a nesting-site for certain groups of birds, such as Barbets and Woodpeckers.
- MMRCL has failed on many counts in maintaining the transplanted trees at Aarey and other locations. The total cost of compensatory afforestation and fencing is about Rs. 10.595 million. The cost of transplanting 1072 number of trees is about Rs. 53.60 million @ Rs. 50,000/- per tree.
- Under Article 48A of the Directive Principles of State Policy, The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. In addition, under 51A(g) of the Fundamental Duties of India it shall be the duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
- The existing tree cover in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Aarey Milk Colony and Mangrove areas is under severe threat from indiscriminate development, Metro Car Shed, Cable Car Project, Rail Corridor etc. The need of the hour in Mumbai is to plant more and more trees under State Government’s target of 50 crore plantation program intended to increase the forest cover in the state from the current 20% to the nationally mandated 33% of Maharashtra's land area.
I hereby protest and submit my opposition to the proposal to cut 2238 trees in Aarey. I hope this is the best form of lodging an objection and its value is not debased. I'd also like you to acknowledge this objection on July 8, 2019, the day of the hearing.
Thank you,
To stop the felling of 2700 trees for the construction of a metro car shed at Aarey Colony
Why is this important?
Aarey Colony in Mumbai is the city's last remaining stretches of tree cover. Now, 2700 trees are being felled to accommodate a car shed for the Mumbai Metro - III project.
Though the National Green Tribunal recently dismissed the petition against the cutting of trees, the case is pending in the High Court. The public hearing is scheduled for October 10.
Over the past weekend, around 120 trees were chopped by MMRCL (Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited) officials, without the presence or permissions from any tree officials. When activists protested, they were detained by Aarey Colony police. This completely unacceptable!
We have until October 10 to send in our objections and suggestions to the BMC. These complaints will then be forwarded to MMRCL.
Sign now to send in your objections against the merciless axing of trees at Aarey Colony.
Sources:
1. http://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-for-metro-32700-trees-to-be-cut-in-aarey-colony/1365118
2. https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/aarey-locals-protest-tree-cutting-detained/articleshow/66011691.cms
Email body
To
Mr Jitendra Pardeshi
Superintendent of Garden Department & Tree Authority,
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
Sub : Objections to the cutting of 2238 trees at Aarey Colony for Metro-3
Sir,
This is with reference to the recent Public Notice published by you inviting objections and suggestions under Section 8(3) of the Maharashtra (Urban Area) Protection & Preservation of Tree Act, 1975, for the removal of 2238 trees at Aarey Colony for the Metro 3 Project.
The following are the relevant observations of Environmental Impact Assessment conducted by Maple Consortium in January 2016 for the Mumbai Metro 3 Project.
- Mumbai is reeling under the effects of overpopulation, and reducing green cover. Wildlife is going extinct. The city does not have any forests in the true sense, except Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which extends over an area of about 19.18 sq. km.
- Maple Consortium’s Environment Impact Assessment for the Mumbai Metro 3 Project has virtually declared that Aarey Milk Colony does not have any wildlife, which is factually incorrect, since Aarey is a Forest and the same is evident from the revenue record 7/12 Extracts which shows the entry as Reserved Forest.
- The loss of any tree, native or alien, will lead to the loss of the basic regulating services that it provides such as carbon sequestration, temperature regulation, water regulation and primary production. The tree survey also records a few dead trees. Standing dead-wood serves as a preferred perch for birds of prey, and also as a nesting-site for certain groups of birds, such as Barbets and Woodpeckers.
- MMRCL has failed on many counts in maintaining the transplanted trees at Aarey and other locations. The total cost of compensatory afforestation and fencing is about Rs. 10.595 million. The cost of transplanting 1072 number of trees is about Rs. 53.60 million @ Rs. 50,000/- per tree.
- Under Article 48A of the Directive Principles of State Policy, The State shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. In addition, under 51A(g) of the Fundamental Duties of India it shall be the duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.
- The existing tree cover in Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Aarey Milk Colony and Mangrove areas is under severe threat from indiscriminate development, Metro Car Shed, Cable Car Project, Rail Corridor etc. The need of the hour in Mumbai is to plant more and more trees under State Government’s target of 50 crore plantation program intended to increase the forest cover in the state from the current 20% to the nationally mandated 33% of Maharashtra's land area.
I hereby protest and submit my opposition to the proposal to cut 2238 trees in Aarey. I hope this is the best form of lodging an objection and its value is not debased. I'd also like you to acknowledge this objection on July 8, 2019, the day of the hearing.
Thank you,