HC refuses to stay felling of trees

Entire colony cordoned off by police, Section 144 imposed

Mumbai: The Bombay high court on Saturday refused to stay ongoing felling of trees at Mumbai’s prominent green lung, Aarey Colony, to make way for a proposed metro car shed. When the activists protested over the issue, the police arrested 29 of them.

Mumbai, Oct. 5: Police imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code in Aarey Colony and surrounding areas on Saturday, banning unlawful assembly, following strong protests by activists against the felling of trees in the green zone for a Metro car shed, an official said.

While 38 protesters were booked under various sections of the IPC since Friday night, at least 60 others were detained, the police said. Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, who took part in the protest, was also taken into custody.

Opposition parties slammed the ruling SenaBJP alliance, stating they

have failed to save the trees. Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray criticised the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd for “slyly and swiftly” cutting down an ecosystem, which, he said, is “shameful and disgusting”.

He said the Metro officials should be posted in PoK to destroy terror camps, instead of trees.

The MMRCL started hacking trees from Friday night, hours after the Bombay high court dismissed four petitions filed by NGOs and activists challenging the decision to allow felling of trees in the prime green lung of the city.

As the felling of trees began, hundreds of environmental activists gathered in Aarey Colony and protested. They tried to stop the authorities from chopping down the trees.

The activists claimed that almost 200 trees have been cut so far.

Following the protest, the entire Aarey Colony was cordoned off by Mumbai police Saturday. The police started dispersing the crowd and forcibly removed the protesters, an official said.

“Section 144 of the CrPC, banning unlawful assembly, was imposed in Aarey Colony, Goregaon check post and surrounding areas on Saturday,” a Mumbai police spokesperson said. Mr Thackeray, who is contesting October 21 Assembly election from Worli, extended his support to protesters.