THE BATTLE FOR METRO-3 SHED

Nov 2014:Aarey residents gather after witnessing notices on trees for the felling of 2,298 trees Dec 2014-Feb 2015: Citizens start a petition; first major protest is staged October 2015: State accepts six-member committee report to shift Metro-3 car shed to Kanjurmarg Nov 2015: Land being considered at Kanjurmarg is under litigation; State bounces back to Aarey Dec 2015: State hands over 30ha to MMRCL and additional 3ha, violating NGT status quo Jan 2016: Union environment ministry declares Aarey an eco-sensitive zone of SGNP May 22, 2017: NGT asks MMRCL to produce construction permits for Metro-3 car shed at Aarey Jun 2018: NGT orders no dumping of debris, levelling of mud, cutting of tree still July 11.

Next hearing scheduled for July 12 Aug 2018: MMRCL files appeal in the Supreme Court seeking interim relief through a special leave petition on the NGT order Aug 6, 2018: The SC bench disposes the matter, transferring it back to NGT Delhi, the principal bench; NGT stay order continues Sep 20, 2018: Stay on debris dumping, tree felling and land reclamation at Aarey lifted; NGT principal bench says it cannot declare Aarey Colony as forest area. NGO Vanshakti withdraws application and the case is disposed of.

Oct 2018: Bombay high court dismisses a separate petition by Amrita Bhattacharjee and Biju Augustine, challenging land use change of Aarey

November 2018: Petitioners file a special leave petition in SC, challenging the order

April 1, 2019: SC directs MMRCL to file its response within a week, explaining why alternative sites were not chosen for Metro-3 car shed despite availability

April 8, 2019: Maharashtra government and MMRC seek extension to file responses

April 15, 2019: SC dismisses application to look into alternate sites for car depot, citing that options had already been looked into and found unviable by MMRC and a technical committee