MAY –DECEMBER 2017

The Hon’ High Court Bombay, vide order dated 6.5.2017, dismissed the PIL filed by the Citizens and lifts the stay order on cutting of trees for the Metro 3 project. The citizens file a SLP before the Hon’ Supreme Court, which disposes it off refusing stay on cutting of trees but granting liberty to the citizens to approach the High Court for appointment of the committee to oversee tree transplantations and plantations required for the project. The Citizens approach the High Court but even before the committee is formed, MMRCL starts cutting of trees at Churchgate, near Siddhi Vinayak and numerous other In October 2017, citizens  file complaints with the Collector, Aarey Police Station and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board for work being done inside Aarey by MMRCL in violation of the status quo order of the Hon’ NGT and without the mandatory permissions required . Citizens seek permission from the police for a peaceful and silent protest at the proposed yard site in Aarey which is denied. Hence around 100 save aarey volunteers and supporters collect at Picnic Spot where they hug the trees and do a protest by doing a symbolic chipko .Many are detained and then let off with a warning not to disrupt the work going on.

Aarey Conservation Group  and other groups working in association to save Aarey organize various events all over the city to create awareness and connect more people to the cause. Aarey Tigers, Youth for Aarey and Pinkathon Runners organize walks, cycling and runs to draw more people to see and cherish the city’s forest.

A number of celebrities and bollywood personalities tweet and voice their support for saving Aarey which include actors Shabana Azmi, Raveena Tandon, Alia Bhatt,Vishal Dadlani, Farhan Akhtar , singer Shaan among many others.