Cutting 2,700 Trees for Mumbai Metro Project Ignites Protests
- Over 97% of trees targeted cut during October 4-5, MMRC says
- Car shed construction to continue as trees cleared from land
An activist hugs a fallen tree at the Metro car shed in Aarey, Mumbai on Oct. 4.
Photographer: Satyabrata Tripathy/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
India’s Supreme Court’s order on Monday seeking a halt on felling of trees in an area frequented by leopards and vulnerable birds that is also sought for building a depot for Mumbai’s ambitious metro rail project had little effect as authorities cut 98% of the targeted number of trees in less than two days, ensuring the critical infrastructure project doesn’t see further delays.
Earlier, the proposal to fell as many as 2,700 trees located in an area known as Aarey in suburban Mumbai, met with massive protests that saw arrests and detention of more than 2 dozen activists, while it also triggered an outcry from the main ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party days before state elections.