Upping Mumbai's strident voice against the BMC-appointed Tree Authority clearing the hacking of 2,646 trees in Aarey Colony to make way for a Metro car shed, NGO Resqink Association for Wildlife Welfare has dashed off a letter to the high court-appointed Bird Committee. The letter demands a fresh environment impact assessment, citing rich biodiversity in the area.

Mentioning that the cutting of trees would amount to hunting of protected species, it has also demanded that a neutral agency or group of researchers should carry out the exercise. Pawan Sharma, founder and president of RAWW, in the letter said, "More than 2,646 trees will be cut at the proposed Metro car shed site. As we are aware that Aarey has a rich biodiversity and the land on which the trees stand is home to thousands of animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arachnid, cutting them will lead to haphazard and unscientific displacement, higher mortality and territorial fights, further escalating human-wildlife conflicts in the city."