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Activists cry foul over Aarey 'land scam'

In a meeting held on Saturday, Stalin D, Director Projects Vanashakti, addressing several citizen groups and activists, claimed that the Forest department was trying to cover its tracks and was repeatedly distorting facts about the land records and the status of Aarey.

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A view of Aarey colony
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Citizens group and environmentalists, who have been fighting against the proposed Metro III car shed inside Aarey Colony, have not only alleged that the forest department has been deliberately concealing information pertaining to Aarey, but have also written to the Chief Minister asking him to intervene in the Aarey 'land scam'.

In a meeting held on Saturday, Stalin D, Director Projects Vanashakti, addressing several citizen groups and activists, claimed that the Forest department was trying to cover its tracks and was repeatedly distorting facts about the land records and the status of Aarey. He said it was time for activists to not just look at the issue of Aarey colony as an environmental issue, but also as a major land scam in which Aarey was deliberately not being shown as part of Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) so that it could be opened up for real estate development.

"Right from 2014, when we filed a petition in the NGT, the Forest Department denied any association with Aarey. However, in February 2017, we discovered a letter written by Divisional Manager of Borivali National Park on July 22, 1980 stating that in 1969, 20 sqkm. area, which are revenue lands, were transferred from Greater Bombay Milk Scheme at Aarey Colony to the Forest Division. Meanwhile, in 2012, a Management Plan was prepared for the National Park by the same Forest Department which reiterates the fact that the 20.76 sqkm of land was transferred from Aarey Colony and the same lands were described as "Unclassed Forests" of the National Park," said Stalin.

He also alleged that the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) was insisting on having the car shed inside Aarey colony, despite having several alternatives, only to avail FSI benefits.

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