Several activists gathered at Aarey as the authorities began felling trees after the Bombay High Court order quashing all the petitions.
Mumbai| The midnight protest at the Aarey over felling continued on a Saturday morning as well. As the authorities began felling the trees on Friday night after the Bombay High Court quashing petitions of all the activists, several protestors gathered at the spot to oppose the action.
However, the heavy police deployment in the region saw the police and activists coming face to face. Around 200 protestors were detained and taken to the nearby police station. Some activists also claim that the police lathicharged on them. Meanwhile, the activists also staged a sit-in protest to note a strong opposition to the move.
Here are the live updates:
Prakash Javadekar gives example of Delhi Metro to justify the tree cutting
Prakash Javadekar said, "271 stations of the Delhi Metro have been built and during this time trees are cut down and planted. Today, the number of trees in Delhi has increased."#AareyForest #SaveAarey | HW English https://t.co/EmSTZCxHNV
— HW News English (@HWNewsEnglish) October 5, 2019
Activist hugs a tree revives memories of Chipko Movement:
Mumbai: An activist was seen hugging a tree at the entry into #AareyForest from Marol Maroshi Road where Section 144 has been imposed. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/7cKJmIO3Rx
— ANI (@ANI) October 5, 2019
Shivsena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi who arrived to show solidarity with protestors, detained
Congress leader Milind Deora slams government
The brutal felling of trees at Aarey is a major setback for Mumbai.
It’s like repeatedly stabbing yourself in the lungs!
When cities destroy coastlines & green cover, they’re advancing the doomsday clock#AareyAiKaNa #AareyForest #Aarey
— Milind Deora मिलिंद देवरा (@milinddeora) October 5, 2019
Aditya Thackeray slammed the Mumbai High Court’s decision to allow cutting down Aarey forest trees early Friday stating “Shameful and Disgusting”.
He further added, “Post this official on PoK, Giving them charge to destroy terror camps rather than trees”.
The vigour with which the @MumbaiMetro3 is slyly and swiftly cutting down an ecosystem in Aarey is shameful and disgusting. How about posting these officials in PoK, giving them charge to destroy terror camps rather than trees?
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) October 4, 2019
He even went on accusing Central Government ministry of climate change talks on plastic pollution when they are senselessly destroying Aarey region.
There’s no point for the Central government ministry of climate change to exist, or to speak about plastic pollution when the @MumbaiMetro3 senselessly destroys the Aarey vicinity. This ego battle taken up by Metro 3 is destroying the purpose of making it.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) October 4, 2019
He further tweeted the project’s projection should have been with pride but now it has to do in the cover of night with shame and shyness.
A project that should be executed with pride, the Metro 3, @MumbaiMetro3 has to do it in the cover of the night, with shame, slyness and heavy cop cover.
The project supposed to get Mumbai clean air, is hacking down a forest with a leopard, rusty spotted cat and more— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) October 4, 2019
Midnight protest at Aarey
#WATCH: People gathered in protest at #AareyForest against the felling of trees there, earlier tonight. They were later removed from spot by police. Bombay HC has dismissed all petitions against BMC decision which allowed felling of more than 2700 trees there, for metro car shed. pic.twitter.com/saT4MaHWsq
— ANI (@ANI) October 4, 2019
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