World Nature Conservation Day: Aarey Colony of Mumbai
Every year, July 28th is recognized as World Nature Conservation Day. Protecting our natural resources and the environment as a whole is the goal of the day. The major objective of World Nature Conservation Day is to save species that are close to going extinct. The purpose of the day is to increase public awareness of small-scale actions that can be taken to safeguard the environment and our finite resources.
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World Nature Conservation Day in 2022
The theme for World Nature Conservation Day. in 2022 is “Living Sustainably in Harmony with Nature.” Due to this year’s record-breaking heat, wildfires, floods, and other natural calamities, more and more people are becoming aware of the consequences of climate change caused by human activity. This year’s emphasis is on the sustainable use of natural resources by people and the implementation of conservation strategies to prevent the environment from being overused for mining, hunting, and other destructive activities.
Let’s examine the development of the metro car shed in Mumbai’s lush Aarey Colony on this occasion.
The lungs of Mumbai are Aarey Colony.
Due to its immense greenery, Aarey Colony is frequently referred to as the “Lungs of the City.” The region is regarded as an eco-sensitive zone that has been experiencing declining green cover in recent years.
The location will continue to lose trees as it has been selected by the Maharashtra government as the location for the metro car shed project. In December 2016, the union environment ministry announced the exclusion of 165 hectares of Aarey land intended for the construction of a vehicle depot for the Mumbai Metro Line 3 from the eco-sensitive zone of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. This was perceived as an additional effort to reduce the green cover.
It is regarded as the most significant line because it will run through the projected international and domestic airport terminal stations and connect the business districts of Andheri East (SEEPZ), Bandra-Kurla complex, Worli, Colaba, and Cuffe Parade. Under the auspices of the Aarey Conservation Group, non-profit organizations and private citizens banded together to voice their concerns about the state and federal governments’ decision to exclude 165 hectares of Aarey land from the Sanjay Gandhi National Park’s eco-sensitive zone (ESZ), despite the fact that only 30-35 hectares are required for the depot and related activities. Citizens assert and worry that this greater space may eventually be used for commercial development.
Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray relocated the project to a land in Kanjurmarg after assuming the office. The project will return to its original location due to the state’s political instability and the appointment of a new Chief Minister in his stead. Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis made their intention to relocate the Mumbai Metro Line 3 vehicle depot back to Aarey colony known the day after they were sworn in as chief minister of Maharashtra earlier this month.
The work at Aarey can now resume after the new government formally lifted the moratorium on it on Thursday. Since the decision, residents of the Aarey colony have staged two protests, reviving the #SaveAarey hashtag on social media. The campaign aims to safeguard the woodlands of the Aarey Colony, a delicate ecoregion that is home to numerous endangered plant and animal species.
This is an example of how development and the environment conflict. The public is demonstrating for environmental conservation while the government is favouring growth. It now has a completely new dimension due to the political debate, which might be terrible for all parties concerned.
