Aarey Milk Colony is among a handful of places in the city that can be called its green lung. Given this, the government's plan to build a car shed for the Metro III line, for which trees would be razed in an area totalling 70 acres, has been termed absurd by citizens and environmental activists. The government's proposal includes chopping 2,298 trees for building the car depot.
In order to voice against the government's decision, a silent protest was organised recently by several citizens, including political parties and celebrities. Around 350 verdant lovers showed up for the protest, including kids holding up posters with messages that read 'Save Aarey'.
Protesting in the scorching heat, the environment lovers started their march from the Picnic Spot to the site where the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) has started its work for the shed. The idea of the protest was to send out a compelling message about the ruthless decision of axing trees and that the decision is not pro-environment.
Environment activist Stalin D shared, "We are trying to make a point here by protesting silently; we are not against the metro or any form of development. We are only saying that don't make the shed in Aarey; move it elsewhere. We are also trying to meet the CM for this as hundreds of people have signed the petition."
The protest organisers displayed their displeasure at the government's decision of chopping the trees in an unusual way. In a symbolic manner, logs of woods were covered with shroud that had red stains on it making it look like as if the logs had suffered injuries and were hence bleeding.
The protesters made a human chain that was quite long, considering the large attendance at the protest. This made onlookers and passers-by enquire. When a few passers-by learnt about the reason of the protest, they joined in too.
Oshiwara-based activist Rishi Agarwal shared, "We are hoping that the protests and the human chain would deliver a strong message to the authorities. Aarey is an ecosystem in its own way and we need to save every single tree."
Another round of protests
Stalin shared, "We planned this event at a very short notice; hence there are only few hundreds of people in attendance. We want to plan another massive protest that would include even more people and it would be planned extensively."
Around 50 children had turned up for the protest, including a few who were really young. It was heart-warming to see such young green lovers. Here's what a couple of them had to say:
Eight-year-old Mihika Desai shared, "I have joined the protest as I feel that the trees should be saved as they are important for the environment. People are saying that there might be another protest and if there is one, I will surely come back."
Nine-year-old Akash Murlidharan had come along with his school friends. He said, "I hope they don't cut the trees as we all need them. My friends and I are supporting it wholeheartedly and I have also been circulating pamphlets with 'Save Aarey' messages."
