Opposed tree cutting in Aarey, allowed cutting of 25k trees in the city!

BJP accuses Sena of double standards

Mumbai: Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray might have garnered praises and earned few brownie points when he made the emotional announcement while stopping the work on Metro 3 line car shed at Aarey Milk Colony in the name of protecting the natural wealth. CM Thackeray and his Environment Minister son Aditya have been critical of the proposed metro car shed at Aarey ever since Shiv Sena locked horns with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and parted ways to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government in the state.

The hollowness of the care for environment was exposed again on Tuesday in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) budget for the year 2020-21 that was presented before the Civic House. The civic body, governed by Shiv Sena admitted to having allowed cutting of 25,000 trees across the city for various developmental projects. During the last one year, it allowed hacking of 3,236 trees across the city. This has given yet another reason for BJP to settle political scores with its newfound foe.

Soon after taking over the charge CM Uddhav Thackeray, announced that the work on the Metro 3 car shed would be stayed because it was detrimental to the natural wealth. “I cannot allow plucking of even a single leaf, leave alone cutting a tree in the name of development,” CM Thackeray had remarked then.

However, it has proved to be a mere lip service as he is yet to issue orders to this effect.

Bhalchandra Shirsat, spokesperson BJP said, “Shiv Sena allowed tree cutting for benefit of few developers and its leaders. It had nothing to do with the general good of the people suffering in the crowded local trains. This is the real face of self-proclaimed environment lover Shiv Sena.”

Shiv Sena spokesperson Dr Manisha Kayande said, “There is vast difference between the two instances. Aarey Milk Colony is a full grown forest, though not notified. It houses a rich biodiversity. The trees in question, allowed to be hacked elsewhere in the city cannot be compared with the forest. Decisions about those trees were taken after the advice of experts on Tree Authority of BMC. The BJP on the other hand bulldozed its decision to cut trees at Aarey Milk Colony despite strong objection by the experts.”