Bombay HC refuses stay on cutting of trees in Aarey Colony for metro car shed

The cutting of trees has been met with stiff resistance from green activists.

Despite protests, officials continue to cut trees in Aarey Colony on October 5, 2019.

The Bombay High Court on Saturday refused to stay the cutting of over 2,500 trees, underway since Friday evening, in the Aarey Colony by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) to make way for a metro car shed. The cutting of trees has been met with stiff resistance from green activists.

Zoru Bhathena, a local resident who has been a petitioner before the High Court challenging the Tree Authority's order directing 2646 trees to be cut, moved the court again.

His plea came up before a division bench of Justices SC Dharmadhikari and AK Menon and it refused to grant a stay.

On Friday, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog dismissed all pleas concerning Aarey and allowed the cutting of trees.

400 trees have been cut in the dead of the night. As citizens sang and joined hands in unity pleading to STOP this massacre. Can't you see they are UNITED by love!?! Love for nature. Love for our children and our future. #Aarey#ClimateAction#ActNow#ChangeIsComingpic.twitter.com/7XCwSeaqDT

— Dia Mirza (@deespeak) October 5, 2019

On my way to #aarey and main entry points to the site have been blocked by Mumbai Police! #SaveAarey

— Priyanka Chaturvedi (@priyankac19) October 5, 2019

A sad day today where so called development wins over quality of life and preservation of environment. The trees are already being chopped down in the dark of the night. This is murder of mother nature and we will all have to pay for it. God help Mumbai https://t.co/BZvnfbwNYW

— Priya Dutt (@PriyaDutt_INC) October 4, 2019