Mumbai: Protests erupt against new Maharashtra govt's decision to move metro car shed back to Aarey

The Bharatiya Janata Party BJP and Eknath Shinde may have won the battle of leading state affairs but they have certainly lost the warmdashthat of winning the peoplesrsquo hearts Their governmentrsquos decision to shift the Metro 3 car shed back to Aarey Milk Colony has ensured that the common man and nature lovers are back for a fight to save Mumbairsquos lungs Members of Save Aarey citizens and political party workers protested in Aarey colony against the proposed car shed on SundayZoru Bhatena a member of the Save Aarey movement said the government should use the alternative place for the carshed ldquoThe land at Kanjurmarg is the most suitable place for it But this government is playing with the environment We will decide what to do if the government sticks to its decisionrdquo he saidAlso read In photos Green activists protest to save Aarey forest police beef up deploymentPeople protest at the Aarey Milk Colony on Sunday PicShadab KhanldquoNo one is against development but everyone is against the destruction of forest land Development and environment should coexist Build a metro car shed in Kanjurmarg Why punish Mumbaikars for your politicsrdquo said Shiv Sena Member of Parliament Priyanka Chaturvedi who joined the protest with party membersYuva Sena core committee member Ankit Prabhu who also took part in the protest said ldquoThe large participation of people protesting the current governmentrsquos decision to shift the car shed from Kanjurmarg to Aarey proves the fact that Mumbaikars are against it We are not against the Metro but development should not be at the cost of the environment Our party Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray have always stood for wildlife and the environment and we will continue to support themrdquoListen to the protestersMisti Bhawar a student also joined the protest ldquoI feel this forest must be saved for future citizensrdquo Misti said Manjula Kandiwel a member of Aam Aadmi Party said ldquoWe are here to save the environment and forest This forest is much needed for the cityrdquoYusuf Sheikh known as the green autowala for his proenvironment stand also joined the protestldquoWe are against any chief minister who takes the first decision on environmental destruction on the first day of taking charge The BMC election is round the corner and such a government will not get votes I urge the Thackeray family to stand by us here as now they are in oppositionrdquo said Tasneem Shaikh a member of Save Aarey A member of the Aarey conservation movement and a wildlife lover Kaushal Dubey said ldquoI was happy to know that 812 acres of the Aarey land was declared forest Now we have some leaders who do not know the importance of greenery While the world is talking about climate change here are some people want to destroy the environment for their egosrdquoYusuf Sheikh who is known as the Green Autowala also joined the protest Yusuf uses his auto rickshaw to appeal for the environment ldquoI joined the Save Aarey mission on the first day it started This forest is important for the cityrsquos environment Not all citizens want this forest destroyedrdquo Sheikh saidThe Bhoir family tribals from Aarey were also in the protestLocal tribals upsetPrakash Bhoir a tribal from Aarey who joined this protest with his family said ldquoThe Aarey forest has a rich biodiversity which includes trees insects butterflies and other mammals besides leopards I hope the current government takes a decision which protects the environment and we will support itrdquoHis wife Pramila said ldquoWe had even spent three days in jail for the agitation in the past to protect Aarey This forest is our life How can the government disturb it she said Another family member Namita Bhoir had participated in the protest with her 6year daughter Avani She said ldquoIn school teachers have taught my daughter not to waste even a glass of water But here a forest is being destroyedrdquoKaushal Dubey wildlife loverlsquoNow we have some leaders who do not know the importance of greenery While the world is talking about climate change here are some people who want todestroy the environment for their egosrsquoVoicesNamita Bhoir tribal from AareylsquoIn school teachers have taught my daughter not to waste even a glass of water But here a forest is being destroyedrsquoPrakash Bhoir tribal from AareylsquolsquoThe Aarey forest has a rich biodiversity which includes trees insects butterflies and other mammals besides leopards I hope the current government takes a decision which protects the environment and we will support itrsquo2141No of trees hacked at the car shed site in Oct 2019