As a young boy scout running around in Aarey Milk Colony on a treasure hunt over three decades ago, I never imagined that I would be someday called upon to defend its soothing canopy of trees and the fabulous lakes, gardens, cattle sheds, hillocks and sprawling grasslands from being usurped for mindless urban development.

While I’m not shocked that today’s mall-obsessed citizens are not aware of the ecological diversity that Aarey hosts, it’s surprising that even an internationally reputed organisation such as Rites Ltd (Rail India Technical and Economic Service) - which advises and guides the largest infrastructural projects for the Indian government - mentioned in its Environmental Impact Assessment report that no wildlife was found to exist within Aarey.