Aarey Colony: Many arrested after midnight drama; Section 144 imposed
Merely hours after the Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed all four petitions challenging the felling of trees in the Aarey Colony in Goregaon East, Mumbai, authorities started cutting trees at the site. High drama ensued past midnight as several activists who camped at the site to hold protests were reportedly detained. Meanwhile, bulldozers were brought in to raze the trees. Here's what happened.
HC dismissed petitions challenging felling of 2,646 trees in Aarey
On Friday, the HC dismissed four petitions, filed by activists, against allowing the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) to cut 2,646 trees in Aarey, which the court said was "not a forest." However, activists alleged that in the cover of darkness, authorities went ahead with the felling of trees, despite a 15-day waiting period after the court order was uploaded on its website.
Over 30 activists detained since Friday night: Report
The felling of trees mere hours after the court's ruling sparked overnight protests at the site. A video highlighting that the cutting of trees had already commenced surfaced online late Friday night. The felling of trees is in violation of rules of the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), NDTV reported. Meanwhile, The Quint reported over 30 activists have been detained since Friday night.
IPC Section 144 imposed at site: Report
According to ANI, Section 144 of the CrPC was imposed near the site early Saturday morning, prohibiting assembly of over four persons. Reportedly, 25 people were booked under IPC Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty).
'Courts shut. Forest will be gone by reopening'
Notably, the activists said in a statement, "The permission for the tree cutting of Aarey metro 3 Car shed depot was uploaded on the MCGM website on 4th October 2019 evening and tree cutting began the same night." They added, "The courts are shut for the weekend and then for Dussehra... By the time courts reopen, the forest will be gone."
You can watch the aforementioned video here
We estimate 300-400 trees to have been cut: Activist
Further, activist Amrita Bhattacharjee said, "In Dahisar Police station, 26 or more people were detained- nine of them are women, including five Adivasis and four college students." Nine more were detained at the Aarey police station, Bhattacharjee alleged. Another activist, Amrita, said, "We're unable to reach the site where the trees have been cut exactly. But we estimate 300-400 trees to have been cut."
Online backlash targeted Maharashtra government, civic body
After the first video surfaced, several other visuals from the scene were also posted online, including those from protests against the felling of trees. Several others tweeted criticizing the Devendra Fadnavis government in Maharashtra and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
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Activists have been trying to Save Aarey for 2 years
For the past two years, activists have protested the decision of MCGM's Tree Authority to allow the construction of a Mumbai Metro car shed at Aarey Colony, which along with the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, is considered the "lungs" of Mumbai. Aarey has over five lakh trees. However, MMRCL and BMC have argued that the metro car depot is in the public's greater interest.
