The whole world is concerned of the devastation the rapid spreading fire in the Amazon rain forest is causing to the environment. Several countries have joined hands to douse off the fire which is burning millions of trees in several different countries and destroying wild life and many species forever. But nearer home it seems that the authorities have not realised the need to conserve our forest cover and enhance the greenery.
The metropolitan city of Mumbai has been literally gasping for breath as several green patches of land have made way for concrete jungles, highway, flyovers, etc, all in the name of development. Now if the authorities have their way the last vestiges of greenery in this city, which is bursting at its seam with the every growing population, could fall under the axe.
Recently, the BMC passed a proposal to cut around 2,200 trees in Aarey colony to make way for the Mumbai Metro III car shed. Aarey forest is the lungs of Mumbai city. The lush green forest takes all the negativity of Mumbai city and gives back pure clean air to Mumbaikars. Aarey is a forest that has wildlife, including leopards and needs to be protected to ensure Mumbai has clean air and the ecological balance is maintained. Saving trees, reduces carbon footprints. Aarey is one of the last green patches left in Mumbai and is also home to a large variety of flora and fauna which needs to be protected at any cost.
An environmental assessment report has shown that cutting the trees at the Aarey forest will lead to flooding of the Mumbai International Airport in case of heavy rains. Green activists have reportedly questioned the authorities why an alternative site for the proposed car shed which will cause less damage to the environment is not being considered. The authorities have been boasting of having planted lakhs of saplings across the city in a bid to increase the green cover. However, it must be said that growing trees across the city, Mumbai is very little consolation if an entire forest is being razed to the ground. The Aarey forest is home to several species of wild animals and a treasure trove of flora fauna. Planting trees across the city will not replace this natural beauty in the form of wildlife and rare species of insects, birds and plants. Aarey forest supports an entire ecosystem of its own, with a rich biodiversity. An ecosystem like this takes hundreds of years to build up, and cannot be re-planted overnight. Government records show that Aarey is an integral part of Sanjay Gandhi National Park and thus protected under forest laws. It has over 5 lakh trees, it is home to 9 resident leopards and has a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna.
Even today, original adivasis reportedly live in 27 tribal hamlets in Aarey. Hundreds of Mumbaikars have recently braved the rains to form a human chain in order to protests against the cutting of these trees of Aarey forest. However, it is understood that the Green Activists have suffered a second jolt as the Bombay High Court has reportedly refused to stay the ongoing felling of trees.
