Shiv Sena leader and Worly seat contestant Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday came down heavily on the Mumbai metro authorities and extended his support to activists protesting against the felling of trees at Aarey Colony in Mumbai to build an upcoming metro car shed.
Thackeray took to Twitter and termed the felling down of trees as “shameful and disgusting” act which was carried out “in cover of night, with slyness.”
He said, “A project that should be executed with pride, the Metro 3, @MumbaiMetro3 has to do it in the cover of the night, with shame, slyness and heavy cop cover. The project supposed to get Mumbai clean air, is hacking down a forest with a leopard, rusty spotted cat and more…”
A project that should be executed with pride, the Metro 3, @MumbaiMetro3 has to do it in the cover of the night, with shame, slyness and heavy cop cover.
The project supposed to get Mumbai clean air, is hacking down a forest with a leopard, rusty spotted cat and more— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) October 4, 2019
In another tweet he said that Mumbaikars should not be treated like “criminals” for their “sensible demand of sustainable development.”
He tweeted, “The @ShivSena @sheetalmhatre1 ji & Shubha Raul ji at Aarey. Even @prabhu_suneel ji has been standing up for it with the citizens. Wonder why @MumbaiMetro3 is treating Mumbaikars like criminals and not listening to sensible demand of sustainable development.”
The @ShivSena ‘s @sheetalmhatre1 ji & Shubha Raul ji at Aarey. Even @prabhu_suneel ji has been standing up for it with the citizens. Wonder why @MumbaiMetro3 is treating Mumbaikars like criminals and not listening to sensible demand of sustainable development. https://t.co/ZdjF8ttKTk
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) October 4, 2019
Thackeray even suggested that the officials involved in the cutting of trees should be posted in PoK to destroy terror camps instead.
He said, “The vigour with which the @MumbaiMetro3 is slyly and swiftly cutting down an ecosystem in Aarey is shameful and disgusting. How about posting these officials in PoK, giving them charge to destroy terror camps rather than trees?”
The vigour with which the @MumbaiMetro3 is slyly and swiftly cutting down an ecosystem in Aarey is shameful and disgusting. How about posting these officials in PoK, giving them charge to destroy terror camps rather than trees?
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) October 4, 2019
He even targeted the Centre’s ban on single use plastic and termed the move as “ego battle” and no point of Central government to speak about plastic pollution” when “senselessly destroys the Aarey vicinity.”
“There’s no point for the Central government ministry of climate change to exist, or to speak about plastic pollution when the Mumbai Metro senselessly destroys the Aarey vicinity. This ego battle taken up by Metro 3 is destroying the purpose of making it,” he said.
There’s no point for the Central government ministry of climate change to exist, or to speak about plastic pollution when the @MumbaiMetro3 senselessly destroys the Aarey vicinity. This ego battle taken up by Metro 3 is destroying the purpose of making it.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) October 4, 2019
On October 4, the Mumbai’s Aarey Colony witnessed hacking of trees in the area. Protesters gathered at the spot asking why the authorities can’t wait until a petition can be filed in the Supreme Court regarding the matter.
Protests continued during the wee hours of Saturday as authorities began cutting down trees at Aarey Colony for the metro car shed. The protesters opposing the BMC tree authority’s decision entered the metro rail site as the municipal corporation began felling of trees. However, they were pushed back by the police and all roads leading to the car shed site have been barricaded.
In a huge setback for environment activists, the Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed all the petitions urging Aarey Colony to be declared as a forest and allowed felling of over 2,700 trees to build the upcoming metro car shed in the green belt.
The Metro Bhavan, to be built at a cost of around Rs 13 crore, will be spread over 1.14 lakh sq metres in the lush green Aarey Colony, Goregaon. It has attracted stiff opposition from Mumbaikars, environmentalists and celebrities who fear huge loss of green cover due to the project.
The verdict is a huge setback for the crusaders who were against the government’s move and were protesting. Their demand was to relocate the metro car depot, which is part of the Metro III project.
Known as the Green lung of Mumbai, the Aarey Colony is situated near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park.