The citizens involved in the Save Aarey initiative want to keep the momentum going and have called Mumbaikars for a silent protest on March 20, a day before International Day of Forests. They have planned to form a human chain at Marine Lines from 5pm to 6pm.
The citizens involved in the Save Aarey initiative want to keep the momentum going and have called Mumbaikars for a silent protest on March 20, a day before International Day of Forests. They have planned to form a human chain at Marine Lines from 5pm to 6pm.
Aarey Colony residents have been fighting to save the area's green cover, which is likely to be sacrificed for the upcoming Metro car shed there.
Environmental activist and volunteer at the NGO Vanashakti Jyoti Sharma announced the event via Facebook on March 7. "We didn't expect the kind of support we received for our movement. It has been covered widely in the media and almost every Mumbaikar now knows this issue. We want to keep it alive with a silent protest against the continuous degradation of Aarey land by the Metro yard and other projects, besides encroachment, zoo and widening of the road, which will lead to loss of around 1,000 trees,"said Sharma.
"We wanted maximum impact and, hence, thought that South Mumbai will be a good place for all Mumbaikars to sit up and take notice. We want to send a message that today it may be Aarey, but tomorrow it may be the green cover in other areas. All trees in Mumbai need to be saved."
Vanashakti founder-member Stalin Dayanand said they expect 2,000-odd people on the day and are asking more to join from South Mumbai. "We are planning to form a human chain from Trident to Wilson college. We wish to send a message that this issue is not of Goregaon's alone. It's government's tendency to ignore people in the suburbs. Hence, the area we plan to have the protest in is right next to the Mantralaya. It'll speed things up for us if it reaches the ears of the people in power. The CM had declared that no development will take place in Aarey, then why make a committee to see into the matter? There is no decent green space in the city and massive forest area is being cleared for construction. Ornamental plants in buildings are replacing trees," he added.
The team is approaching schools, colleges and offices in South Mumbai for support.
Chip in
To volunteer for the cause, e-mail your numbers to Jyoti Sharma at jyotirajesh20@gmail.com and luhar79@gmail.com
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