Just minutes after my update on Aarey Forest’s expectations from the new government was posted on this petition, our CM announced that Metro car shed construction will not take place inside Aarey Forest. The very long struggle to Save Aarey that began in 2014 and still continuing despite several attempts from adamant bureaucracy to dampen it, saw a pleasant surprise by the new bureaucracy who pledged to Save Aarey in one of its firsts announcements!
The decision to stop Metro car shed construction and not Metro work by our Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray is historic in many ways:
1. This is the first Chief Minister of Maharashtra to address an environmental issue on the first day of resuming his office! This gives us hope that the new government shall be focused on sustainable development of the city where environment and development stay balanced.
2. The CM has respect for democracy where he listened and acted upon the voices of the citizens. Mumbaikars have always demanded to save their precious green lungs. There are almost 6.5 lakhs ardent supporters of Aarey forest on this petition, almost 2 lakhs supporters on other online petitions for Aarey, several citizens have been staging protests in different parts of the city- railway stations, malls, marine drive, aarey colony, mmrda building, etc. Several NGOs and wildlife organisations came forward to protect the green lungs. Housewives, school children, professionals, artists, photographers, tribal communities, senior citizens, journalists, students demanded to protect Aarey forest. The new CM not only aired upon citizens’ woes but also acted upon it by banning the metro car shed work inside Aarey.
3. Aarey forest is one of the issues upon which an election was fought and won. This shall give our political parties a lesson that it is not just the poverty, religion, aggressive nationalism that can win elections but even the environment has the potential to win elections. In coming years, Maharashtra election can set the trend for political parties to prioritize environment in their election campaign which otherwise is either pushed into the back pages of their manifestos or ignored completely!
We hope that the new government fulfils its promises and declares Aarey as a reserve forest. We hope this government ensures Mumbai’s ranking improves from being the most polluted megacity in the world. We hope that the new government protects and preserves the natural resources of the city and ensures they remain pure and pristine.
I thank all the supporters of this petition who have played an integral role in motivating the new government to take up the cause of Aarey forest in its priority. Our fight is still on till we reclaim our forests from the greed of power and money.