Lata Mangeshkar jumps into the Save Aarey, Save Forest campaign

@prashanthamine

Mumbai: Noted songstress, Bharat Ratna awardee, Lata Mangeshkar has lent her support to the “Save Aarey”, “Save Forest” campaign that seeks to oppose the cutting and transplantation of 2,702 trees at Aarey Milk Colony to make way for the Metro 3 Carshed. In her tweets on Wednesday in English and Hindi, the noted playback singer has termed the move as a “tragedy” and urged the government to look into the matter and Save the Aarey Forest.

In her tweets which has been retweeted by MNS Adhikrut and social activist Anjali Damania, Lata Mangeshkar tweeted “to cut down 2,700 trees and invade the natural habitat for so many species would be a tragedy. I firmly oppose this move and I earnestly request the government to look into this matter and save the forest #SaveAareyForest”.

The issue has once again flared up with the Tree Authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on August 29 clearing the proposal for cutting or transplanting of 2,702 trees in Aarey Milk Colony for the Metro 3 Car-shed. The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) had submitted a proposal for cutting 2,232 trees (which is to be compensated by planting thrice as many saplings elsewhere) and transplanting 469 trees at Aarey Milk Colony.

The ruling Shiv Sena had opposed the MMRCL proposal, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), five independent experts and some opposition corporator’s had supported the proposal. As per the law the prior approval of the Tree Authority of the BMC is mandatory. In 2018 the Bombay High Court had stayed the functioning of the Tree Authority on grounds that it did not have more independent experts, mainly Botanists on the panel.

On Monday, September 2, several environment activists joined by Bollywood actor Shraddha Kapoor had formed a human chain to protest against the BMC approval to axe and transplant trees at Picnic Spot inside Aarey Milk Colony. Yash Marwa convenor of the agitation announced a “Chipko” style “Andolan. He claimed that more than 82,000 objections were filed against the proposal, yet the authorities chose to ignore them even as Aarey Milk Colony is marked as a Green Belt.

The Aarey Milk Colony was set up in 1949 for processing and marketing dairy products to city of Mumbai. Spread over 3,166 acres covering 16 Kms, it has 400 acres reserved for fodder cultivation. It houses government enterprises like the Aarey Dairy, poultry farm, Modern Bakery, veterinary college, dairy institute (built with support of government of New Zeland) and cattle units. Besides this the area also houses State Reserve Police (SRP) battalion complex, Film City and also has presence of MHADA, BMC and Fisheries department. The entire Aarey Milk Colony comes under the jurisdiction of the state governments Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department.

However, local residents are hardly amused by the on-going agitations. Many point out to the poor conditions of arterial internal roads, lack of proper hospital, schools, market facilities. Recently two pregnant women suffered miscarriage as their autorickshaw hit a pothole. The Aarey Dairy has for more than a decade now stopped production of its famous Aarey flavored milk brand. Some of the cattle units have been leased out for setting up film sets. The Aarey Milk Colony has seen encroachments of slums in pockets and illegal constructions. The main arterial road that connects Goregaon East with Eastern suburbs remains desolate in the night due to poor street lighting and lack of security.-Prashant Hamine