Supreme Court intervenes in the felling of trees in Aarey Forest

Mumbai's lungs are being chopped down by cutting down trees in Aarey forest while sentencing 29 citizens to judicial custody. Supreme court ordered a status quo.

Aarey forest located in Mumbai, Maharashtra is a wide ecosystem that is part of the Sanjay Gandhi National park with its own wide and rich biodiversity. With trees that have been part of the forest for over a hundred years, Aarey is the green lung of Mumbai that contributes to keeping the city's air clean and saving the ecosystem.

Aarey forest has been in danger since the government decided to opt for development over the environment. Various environmentalist, activists, organisations, students and citizens have been fighting towards this noble cause of protecting Aarey forest that the government intends to cut down in order to make way for a new Metro car shed.

View this post on Instagram

We Need Metro But Not At The Cost Of Killing The Green Lungs Of Mumbai. Metro Car Shed Should Not Be In #AareyForest & Should Be Shifted To The Alternative Location Given. #SaveAareyForestSaveMumbai #SaveAareySaveMumbai #LetMumbaiBreathe Video Made By @siddhesh69 @eldridgesolutions

A post shared by Aarey Forest (@aareyforest) on Sep 11, 2019 at 11:04pm PDT

However, on the 4th of October, 1800 trees were cut down by the officials at night. The police also arrested 29 activists. They detained them up until 3 am without any charges. The police charged them with cognisable offences later in the morning.

People shared their unhappiness on Twitter.

Just wondering how cutting another 2,500+ trees will affect the already pathetic ratio. #SaveAarey pic.twitter.com/JbCQt3lyZ0

— Bhumika Pruthi (@PruthiBhumika) October 5, 2019

While PM shows concern about Enviornment abroad
This is what is happening in Mumbai ..
Lungs of the City r being mercilessly Chopped off #SaveAarey pic.twitter.com/WhuWWPxycv

— Aarti (@aartic02) October 5, 2019

More than 100 trees illegslly felled at night in Aarey!
Hyderabad stands with Mumbai in it's fight to #SaveAarey.
If you believe that development should coexist with the environment, join the peaceful protest at KBR Park at 7 am on October 6.
Wear black in solidarity. pic.twitter.com/fU54775i46

— نتاشا Natasha (@nuts2406) October 5, 2019

Also Read: Riddhima Pandey Is One Of The Youngest Indian Activists Fighting Against Climate Change

Remember this scene from the movie Avatar ??? #AAREY is no different. #SaveAarey #AareyForest #AareyColony pic.twitter.com/kTVQA9LFJy

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) October 5, 2019

Last Night - they came in the middle of the night, armed with axes and malicious intent, they made corpses of the lungs of Mumbai.

Today - they locked away the protestors, laughing as their men continued to hack away.

Tomorrow - Mumbai will choke for fresh air.#SaveAarey

— URVASHI RAUTELA⚡️BijliKiTaar⚡️ (@UrvashiRautela) October 5, 2019

Hundreds of Mumbaikars have gathered to stop the massacre of #AareyForest and facing the wrath of the police.

Where's @AUThackeray who promised that he won't allow cutting down even a single tree?#SaveAarey pic.twitter.com/zbaHOLa0LW

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) October 4, 2019

These terrible pictures emerging from #AareyForest @mybmc didnt wait for the 15 day period required to implement orders & more than 250 trees have already been felled. How will this loss ever be compensated? #SaveAarey @ReallySwara @jigneshmevani80 @amrita_02 @terence_fdes pic.twitter.com/A8NWVF0yjP

— Sushmita (@Sushmitav1) October 4, 2019

However, the Supreme Court on 7th October passed an order demanding the government to stop any further felling of trees until the next hearing on October 21st.