Aarey’s green brigade could leave BJP red-faced

Mumbai: In a move, that could dent BJP’s prospects for upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls, the environment activists are appealing to the people not to vote for parties that are supporting the Metro car shed at the Aarey Colony.

The activists said, “All parties should clarify their stand on the Metro car shed and proposed commercial exploitation of Aarey.”

Environmental activists said that Aarey is city’s biggest green lung and will be destroyed for the proposed Metro car shed. AAP leader Preeti Sharma Menon, actor Raghu Ram, and activists — Amrita Bhattacharya, Sanjeev Khandekar, Bhalchandra Kango, Ram Subramaniam, are a part of ‘Save Aarey Movement’.

Ms Menon said, “We want to make Aarey a major poll issue for the BMC elections. So Mumbaikars should ask all political parties and candidates to take a clear stand on the issue of Aarey. People should not vote for the party that does not commit to Save Aarey movement.”

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that no construction would be allowed on Aarey land, but he later reneged on his promise. Instead, the state government appointed committee recommended that Metro car shed should be built in Aarey.

Ms Menon added, “Despite National Green Tribunal’s order to not construct car shed in Aarey, the state has initiated the work on the proposed Metro project.”

The state government has proposed to construct a Metro-III car shed at 33 hectares of land in Aarey, which requires cutting down of 2500 trees.

Aarey Conservation Group activist Amrita Bhattacharya said, “Kalina or Kanjurmarg were ideal sites for constructing the Metro car shed as it would have helped a lot of commuters. Seven alternate sites have been proposed for the project. But the state government has still decided to go ahead with the project in Aarey, which clearly means they want to exploit the green zone for commercial purpose.” However, BJP is firm on its stand on Metro III project.