Blow to save environment efforts?, CM appointed committee bats for Aarey Car Shed

The tall claims of the chief minister Uddhav Thackeray of not to let plucking of even a single leaf in the name of development might have just vanished in thin air. The committee appointed for review of the proposed Metro Car Shed at Aarey Milk Colony has submitted its report to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) saying that shifting of metro car shed from Aarey could not be logistically viable.

The committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Manoj Saunik, submitted its recommendations to the Chief Ministers Office on Tuesday, January 28. The four man committee was appointed by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray last month. The committee in its recommendations had argued in favor of lifting of the stay on the construction work of the Metro 3 car shed in Aarey Milk Colony.

Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, after taking oath in November last year made an emotional announcement that he will not tolerate and allow destruction of natural wealth in the name of development. “I hereby stay all the work on Aarey Metro Car Shed. We will review the alternatives available. I am against destruction of natural wealth in the name of development.

Even plucking a leaf, leave alone cutting a single tree, would not be allowed in Aarey Milk Colony,” Thackeray had then announced. The environmentalists and citizens fighting to save Aarey Forest had welcomed the decision and rallied behind Thackeray. The announcement was seen as a major victory to the citizen’s fight that lasted for more than three years.

After the emotional announcement, Thackeray had appointed a four member committee comprising bureaucrats to review the alternative sites to build the metro car shed. Interestingly, the committee didn’t have even a single environment expert or representative of the citizens fighting to save Aarey forest. The environmentalists back then had expressed concerns over composition of the committee and could anticipate the outcome.

The committee has cited reasons such as increased cost, logistical issues and further delay in completion of the project, for continuing the care shed at Aarey. Sources said that the committee reviewed two alternative sites, one at the marsh land at Kanjurmarg, where care shed for Metro Line 6 – connecting Jogeshwari and Kanjurmarg – is already proposed and the second site was the State Reserve Police Force ground at Jogeshwari, which is adjoining Aarey Milk Colony. However, the committee found both the sites, not feasible.

The issue of environmental destruction for metro car shed was very dear to Shiv Sena leader Aditya Thackeray. He had locked horns with the then ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the issue, despite the Bombay High Court allowing tree cutting for the car shed.

Speaking to The News 21, noted environmentalist Stalin D, director projects, Vanashakti who spearheaded the Save Aarey movement, said, “it is complete eyewash as expected. This committee of serving government officers was never expected to give any contrary opinion to Ashwini Bhide. The Committee has no environment or technical experts, did not interact with citizens. Why were experts from IIT and NEERI not involved despite having the knowledge?”

The BJP has now intensified the attack after the committee report. Former MP and party leader Kirit Somaiya said, “Now the Metro Car Shed committee submitted its final report to CMO, recommending the car shed work to be continued at Aarey. I appeal Thackeray Sarkar to withdraw the stay. The delay has already caused loss of Rs 600 crores and delay of 60 days.” The car shed proposed at Aarey Milk Colony will serve the 35 km long Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Mumbai Metro Line.