Urgently stop cutting of trees inside Mumbais aarey milk colony

The Issue

Respected Sir,
I hereby file my strong objections to the proposal of tree cutting inside the Aarey Colony Goregaon East. Mumbai. As per your advertisement in the newspaper, it is proposed to cut down 2702 trees for the Metro car shed and its allied activities. 
Aarey colony is the world’s only natural urban forest and the green lungs of Mumbai. The pollution and temperature of Mumbai is regulated by the trees of Aarey. I am unwilling to agree to the destruction of this green space. There are several alternatives at barren locations for this car shed or polluting service centre . The site is also a catchment area of the Mithi river. 
Any change in landscape, loss of trees will impact my health and my right to a clean environment as promised by the Constitution of India. It is my fundamental duty to protect flora and fauna. 
Cutting these trees needlessly cannot be called sustainable development. 
Please do not sanction any permissions to cut even a single tree in Aarey. Since tree cutting is already on at adjacent areas despite our objections last time, please look into this seriously.
Also please provide us list of places and trees that have been successful transplantated We are aware that the tree cover of Mumbai is declining rapidly and the environment is being damaged.
I hereby protest and submit my opposition to the proposal to cut trees in Aarey.
Yours faithfully,

avatar of the starter
Rizwan AshraffiPetition Starter

87,501

The Issue

Respected Sir,
I hereby file my strong objections to the proposal of tree cutting inside the Aarey Colony Goregaon East. Mumbai. As per your advertisement in the newspaper, it is proposed to cut down 2702 trees for the Metro car shed and its allied activities. 
Aarey colony is the world’s only natural urban forest and the green lungs of Mumbai. The pollution and temperature of Mumbai is regulated by the trees of Aarey. I am unwilling to agree to the destruction of this green space. There are several alternatives at barren locations for this car shed or polluting service centre . The site is also a catchment area of the Mithi river. 
Any change in landscape, loss of trees will impact my health and my right to a clean environment as promised by the Constitution of India. It is my fundamental duty to protect flora and fauna. 
Cutting these trees needlessly cannot be called sustainable development. 
Please do not sanction any permissions to cut even a single tree in Aarey. Since tree cutting is already on at adjacent areas despite our objections last time, please look into this seriously.
Also please provide us list of places and trees that have been successful transplantated We are aware that the tree cover of Mumbai is declining rapidly and the environment is being damaged.
I hereby protest and submit my opposition to the proposal to cut trees in Aarey.
Yours faithfully,

avatar of the starter
Rizwan AshraffiPetition Starter
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87,501

The Decision Makers

Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray
Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray
Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Responded
“From the Chief Minister’s Office, Maharashtra Mumbaikars would be happy to note that the Maharashtra government has on 11th October, declared an 808-acre parcel of Aarey land near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park as a reserve forest. This decision is an acknowledgement and recognition of the concerns of citizens who had campaigned to save Aarey, an area which serves as Mumbai’s lungs. People’s participation in the sustainable development of Maharashtra has always been sacrosanct to the vision and mission of the government of Maharashtra. You will also be happy to note that the car shed will now be moved to Kanjurmarg from Aarey and the state government will provide the required land for “zero rupees” and the authorities have been instructed to begin work. As citizens and environmentalists who took to the streets to protest against the tree felling that was carried out at night, and were booked for protesting against the devious act, you would be happy to note that the Cabinet has approved of withdrawing the charges filed against them. The Hon’ble Chief Minister Shri Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray has directed the Home Department to start the procedure for the same. The decision should also resolve the fears expressed in the Change.org petition initiated by Mr. Rizwan Ashraffi and backed by over 87,000 citizens, seeking a halt to the cutting of several hundred trees in the Aarey forest area. It is the sustained campaign of people around the world, championing the cause of the environment in Mumbai that brought the issue into focus and enabled the MVA state government to take decisive steps. This state government is committed to sustainable development and to conserving the unique flora and fauna in the metropolis in their natural habitat. This decision of the Maharashtra government to preserve 808 acres near SGNP as a reserve forest will make it the first of its kind initiative anywhere in the world, in which a vast forest will be grown in the heart of a metropolis. The state government will not rest with just conserving Mumbai’s urban flora. Directives have been given to ensure that while deciding on the reserved forest area, the rights of the tribal community, as well as others concerned, should be held sacrosanct. This decision will protect Sanjay Gandhi National Park and the forest resources in Aarey and meet the long standing demand of concerned citizens. The state government is committed to work together with citizens to ensure sustainable development, and build a Maharashtra that our future generations deserve.”
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Petition created on 2 October 2018