Move To Remove 2646 Trees From Aarey Forest: Bombay HC Directs MCGM And MMRCL To File Reply [Read Petition]

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai and Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited to file their reply in a petition filed by Zoru Darius Bathena challenging Tree Authority's resolution to remove 2646 trees at Aarey Forest, Goregaon in Mumbai.

Division bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Bharati Dangre heard the petition challenging the move to remove a substantial part of the forest often referred to as Mumbai's lungs.

MCGM informed the bench that a formal permission is yet to be granted and the process will take 15 days, until then no trees will be cut.

The petitioner has alleged that such a proposal for cutting of trees at Aarey has been floated from time from 2014 and has either been withdrawn or postponed due to stiff opposition. On the present occasion the proposal has been passed by fraudulent methods, petition states.

According to the petition, Tree Authority which comes under the MCGM issued a Public Notice dated June 30, 2019 calling for suggestions and objections from members of the public on a proposal by MMRCL seeking removal of 2702 trees at Aarey (2238 trees proposed to be cut & 464 trees proposed to be transplanted).

Thereafter, over one lakh citizens filed their objections to the said proposal. On July 08, 2019, the Tree Officer of the said authority conducted a public hearing, where the petitioner and along with 500 other citizens attended and once again raised their objection.

Tree Authority held a meeting to decide on the said proposal on August 29. The said proposal tabled was for removal of 2646 trees at Aarey (2185 cut & 461 transplant), which is a reduction of 56 trees from the original proposal. At the said meeting, a Resolution was passed permitting the said proposal for removal of 2646 trees at Aarey. The said proposal was passed by a 'majority' of 8 to 6, with 3 nominated experts allegedly supporting the proposal, with 2 members walking out and with 2 members absent.

Petition has sought quashing of the said approval of resolution to remove 2646 trees. 

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[Read Petition]