In a remarkable display of civic engagement and environmental advocacy, citizens of Mumbai have marked the completion of 90 weeks of consecutive protests to safeguard the Aarey forest, one of the city’s last remaining natural reserves.
Since July 2022, every Sunday morning, a dedicated group of individuals has convened at Birsa Munda Chowk in Goregaon, holding placards and banners, and voicing their concerns about the preservation of this vital green space.
Organized by local residents and members of the Bombay Catholic Sabha (BCS) from Our Lady of Rosary Church parish in Goregaon, the protests have drawn participants not only from the immediate vicinity but also from various parts of the city. Despite varying attendance numbers, the spirit of the campaign has remained steadfast, with participants demonstrating a commitment to their cause. The Aarey Milk Colony, established in 1949, spans approximately 3100 acres and encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems, including deciduous forests, grasslands, and tribal villages. However, recent developments, such as the allocation of land for infrastructure projects like the SEEPZ-Cuffe Parade underground Metro railway depot, have raised concerns about the encroachment and degradation of the forested areas.
Beyond local issues, the protestors have also raised awareness about broader environmental challenges, both locally and globally. Suggestions for mitigating climate change impacts include advocating for restrictions on private vehicle ownership, promoting public transportation infrastructure, and prioritizing green urban planning strategies such as water harvesting and tree cover enhancement.
Furthermore, the group has emphasized the need for holistic solutions that address the root causes of environmental degradation, rather than relying on superficial measures like electric vehicles powered by non-renewable energy sources. By highlighting the interconnectedness of local and global environmental issues, the protestors have underscored the urgency of collective action to protect precious natural resources like the Aarey forest.
Reshma Shelatkar, an animal rights activist and a resident of Four Bungalows, Versova, was there on Sunday with her 79-year-old mother. “Aarey is one-of-its-kind, an urban forest. We want Aarey to be notified as a protected forest,” said Shelatkar. Aarey is managed by various government agencies and most of the forests in the area are unprotected. The forest faces threats from slums, new government housing projects, and dumping of concrete debris. “We started our protests in 2014 when government agencies issued notices to cut trees to clear land for the depot. The fight to save Aarey is one of the longest fights to save urban forests. We are not against development, but it should not happen at the cost of the environment,” said Shelatkar.
