We need insight on alternative Metro car shed sites

Mumbai's biggest battleground has become the Aarey Milk Colony. An all out war has broken out after a tumultuous run up. The BMC-appointed Tree Authority has cleared the hacking of 2,646 trees in the Colony. Decibels are ratcheting up against this decision, with a report in this paper saying that a non-profit for wildlife welfare has dashed off a letter to the High Court-appointed Bird Committee.

The letter demands a fresh environment impact assessment, citing rich biodiversity in the area. In a nutshell it states that, Aarey has a rich biodiversity and the land on which the trees stand is home to thousands of animals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and arachnid, cutting them will lead to haphazard and unscientific displacement, higher mortality and territorial fights, further escalating human-wildlife conflicts in the city.

With so much at stake and so many experts, not just ordinary people, urging the committee to re-look at the decision, can we have an assessment as to why alternate sites suggested by those opposing the decision are not being looked at. Those in power can look at the alternates and perhaps cite why they still insist that Aarey is the best place for the Metro car shed. One would like to hear and read about why such and such a specific alternate site is not suitable or cannot be used for the car shed. From the beginning we have heard a steady refrain of for and against the car shed. Today, if we have more clarity on why alternate sites are not good enough, it would make better sense understanding why this authority is digging in its heels about Aarey being the most suitable and give us a holistic look at the entire stand-off. We await all explanations from tree honchos at BMC.

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