Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SHP)
Mumbai, Oct 4: On Friday, the Bombay HC gave clearance for the cutting of 2,464 trees from Aarey Milk Colony for the construction of a car shed for Mumbai Metro Line-3.
The presiding judges dismissed a petition by one of the NGOs declaring Aarey as a forest area and have scrapped four other petitions by other NGOs and environment activists.
"The issue is pending before the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal. Hence, we are dismissing the petition on the principle of commonality and not on merits," the court said.
The HC also dismissed the petition of Zoru Bathena who pleaded to declare Aarey area as a floodplain.
As opposed to the views of the environmentalists, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) alleged a loss of Rs 4.23 crore with each passing day. MMRCL and BMC asserted a fall in pollution with more people opting for metro than other means of commuting. They also discarded the pleas of the petitioners who called Aarey a natural forest area in their affidavit.