Days after casting apprehensions over an alliance with the Shiv Sena, Congress’ Sanjay Nirupam, was not only seen dancing to Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray’s tunes but was seen going a step beyond to outfox the new Maharashtra Chief Minister’s decision on halting the car shed construction for the Mumbai Metro in Aarey Milk Colony.
In an interview with ANI, Maharashtra Congress leader was heard saying that though he welcomes the Maharashtra government’s decision to halt the car shed construction but was of the opinion that only temporarily halting the project would not help, instead he was in the favour of completely scrapping the project.
I welcome Maha Govt’s decision to stop work of Metro Carshed in #Aarey
But only stopping will not help, the proposed car shed should be scrapped.
Protest against #metro carshed was not politically motivated but every Mumbaikar’s demand to #SaveAareyForest
Shri @sanjaynirupam pic.twitter.com/ooUHp1TKVS
— With Sanjay Nirupam (@withSNirupam) December 2, 2019
He says that the decision to scrap the project is of one and every person in Mumbai. Congress’ foul-mouthed minister said that this movement against the overnight cutting of trees in Aarey was not politically motivated or devised by any particular political party but is unanimously endorsed by the people of Mumbai.
He said that along with all the Mumbaikar’s he to demands that the project of the car shed construction for the Mumbai Metro in Aarey Milk Colony must be completely scrapped.
Interestingly, despite SC’s stay on tree cutting in Aarey and Metro Corporation’s confirmation that they have cut all the trees that needed to be cut and they do not need to cut any more trees in the area, in his first-ever policy decision as the new CM of Maharashtra, Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had announced on November 29 that not a single leaf will be cut any more and halted metro car shed construction for the same reason until further notice.
At first, the new CM proposes to halt the construction, then Congress senior leader proposes to completely scrap the project. But surprisingly, in both cases, they have not offered an alternative space for the metro car shed. People here are left to wonder, whether the metro coaches will also be split between Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress as well for parking and maintanence.
On the night of 4th October, the Mumbai Metro Corporation had started the process of cutting 2,185 trees in Aarey colony after the Bombay High Court dismissed all petitions against the same earlier in that day. As per an order issued by the Tree Authority on 13th September, approval for cutting 2,185 trees and transplanting 461 trees was granted to clear the allotted land for the depot of metro trains.
Police had to impose section 144 of the IPC for smooth implementation of the order as protestors had arrived at Aarey Colony to prevent trees from being cut. Out of 2,185 trees marked for felling, 2,141 trees were cut before the stay by SC, while the Metro Corporation had said that they have cut all the trees that needed to be cut and they do not need to cut any more trees in the area.
