On Monday, the traffic was diverted from Aarey colony to Marol Naka and Filterpada and tight security of police was deployed to ‘safeguard’ the tree-cutting activity. While MMRC spokesperson called it a tree trimming activity to facilitate the movement of trailers carrying Metro 3 coaches, environmentalists have a different view. Stalin from Vanshakti NGO said the bogies could be offloaded at night from JVLR without the need to touch the trees. This merciless trimming without permission from the Tree Authority is a part of the government’s exercise to demoralize the Save Aarey movement.

Tree trimming is taking place all over Mumbai. There is no need for section 144 for tree trimming. (Section 144 was not mentioned in the press release by the police when they announced traffic diversion at Aarey.) If it was the regular tree trimming why the media and public were banned from entering Aarey and why did they have to detain four people who were present at the site of the trimming? If environmentalists are to be believed, the detention and trimming were being used to cover up for the real tree cutting happening at the car shed area. At present 3 Jcbs have been spotted working in Aarey.

On July, 4th Devendra Fadnavis announced that no more trees were to be cut at Aarey depot. On 25th July, he orders the cutting of trees in Aarey. It is a sad state of our country where those cutting the trees get police protection and those opposing the tree cutting are detained by the police.

Last night, a leopard sighting was done in an area opposite the car shed area. Many such sightings of leopards in and around the car shed area have been documented. Yet the new government refuses to acknowledge that Aarey is a forest and continues to devour a pristine forest. https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cge7pQFvhMh/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

There are many ways the citizens of Mumbai can help raise their voices to protect the Aarey forest. Every Sunday morning, Aarey colony has citizens thronging to make their voices heard. Many are helping to spread awareness through social media. Some citizens are extending their expertise in the field of law, architecture, transport, environment, illustration, design, editing, and helping to strengthen the movement. Those who cannot help with either of the above can support a fundraiser that helps mobilise the movement. https://www.ketto.org/fundraiser/come-save-aarey-forest. The money raised during this fundraiser will be utilised towards the Save Aarey battle in court cases including Lawyers’ fees and other expenses (printing, drafting etc.)

Let us come together and save our last surviving urban forest of Aarey.