Tucked away in Mumbai’s Goregaon suburb, Aarey is spread over 1300 hectares near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP). Also called the Aarey Milk Colony, it is home to several types of flora and fauna, as well as a home for Adivasis still residing within the area. Over the years a concrete jungle has exploded around the forest as Mumbai has become increasingly more metropolitan, leaving Aarey one of the last pockets of lush greenery in a progressively polluted city. Now we find the citizens of Mumbai and the surrounding areas fighting for the preservation of the forest, to save it from reaching a sordid end after almost 73 years of being Mumbai’s green lung.
In 2014, the government proposed a plan to build a shed for the maintenance of the metro coaches that were being acquired for the underground Mumbai metro project. Almost 30 hectares were handed over to the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited for the metro shed project. However, in 2015 NGO ‘Vanashakti’ approached the Mumbai High Court in a plea to stop the felling of trees for the project, along with other citizen-led protests. In response, the court then set up a committee to look into the environmental aspects of the project, and the project was instead moved to the 102-acre plot at Kanjurmarg.
Unfortunately, as it stands today, the metro shed project has been moved back to Aarey, despite protests from environmental activists. They are of the opinion that Aarey is crucial to Mumbai’s future, stating that felling trees will not only cut down on the amount of fresh air that is being produced but also harm the city with floods by reducing the catchment around Vihar Lake.
Fortunately, there are several organisations and environmental activists that are battling to save Aarey. They were able to get 800 acres of the area declared a reserved forest in 2020, but that is only the beginning. Join these groups to learn more about the forest and the Save Aarey movement.
I. Aarey Conservation Group
The Aarey Conservation Group is the first and foremost association in Mumbai that is “Committed to protect, enrich and promote Aarey as a natural green recreation zone for the people of this city.” The group was created as a coalition of five leading environmental NGOs, including Vanashakti and AGNI. They regularly hold peaceful protests and sit-ins to oppose the metro shed project and were instrumental in getting the project moved to Kanjurmarg previously.
Join them here.
II. Youth For Aarey
Similar to the conservation group, Youth For Aarey holds regular protests against the metro shed project. They are a platform for young souls and minds to amplify their voices for the protection of Mumbai’s green spaces. Founded by eco-educator Sukriti Gupta and organic farmer Aparna Bhangia to teach young minds about green spaces in their own areas, they hold bio-diversity walks and other youth-led activities for people of all ages.
Follow them here.
III. Let India Breath
Founded by Yash Marwah, Let India Breath is a foundation of Indians who are “Fed up but haven’t given up yet.” Along with Fridays For Future, Marwah and his team wrote letters upon letters to speak to the local government and created a petition for people to send their own letters too. What started out as a project to save the mangroves in Marwah’s area has quickly turned into a country-wide initiative to save green spaces not only in Mumbai, but also in other places like Bangalore, Assam, and Chattisgarh.
Join them in their endeavours here.
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