Metro Car Shed: PIL In Bombay HC Against BMC’s Notice To Cut Down 177 Trees At Aarey

A public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed by environmental activist Zoru Bhathena in the Bombay high court against the civic authority’s notice announcing the felling of 177 trees for the Metro car shed at Aarey colony.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a notice to cut the trees in order to make way for a ramp that the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) wishes to build for the Metro car shed.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had passed the order on November 29,2022 while hearing a petition seeking a stay on the state government’s decision to allow the car shed for line 3 of Mumbai metro to be located in Aarey.

The PIL claims that even though the Supreme Court only permitted the MMRCL to request permission to kill 84 trees that were presented to the top court, the BMC Tree Authority has issued a notice to cut more trees. The PIL therefore requests that the civic corporation refrain from cutting.

According to the PIL filed by Bhathena on January 12, the tree authority invited suggestions and objections for the removal of 177 trees at Aarey after receiving an application from MMRCL. He claims that the notice violated a Supreme Court order that allowed MMRCL to pursue their application for the felling of 84 trees for the metro project.

It further stated that because the Tree Authority issued the public notice without first seeking appropriate direction from the Supreme Court, the notice was null and void. In light of this, it has requested that the public notice be quashed and set aside, and that the effect of the notice be stayed until further orders are issued.

The PIL is scheduled to be heard on January 30,2023.