Mumbai: How did Aarey patch go from lush green to dead brown?

The affected areas are no longer green as the trees there are allegedly being ‘killed.’ File pic

The rampant spread of illegal slums and killing of trees continue in the city and suburbs. This time, environmentalist Stalin D has complained to the authorities on the mushrooming of illegal slums and alleged killing of trees near the SEEPZ side of Aarey Milk Colony. In his complaint to the authorities, he has sent a series of satellite images that show the rapidly increasing shanties behind the Indian Oil petrol pump on JVLR.

Satellite images show the affected areas in December 2021, and May 2023

Stalin has recently written a letter to the principal secretary of Maharashtra, chief executive officer of Aarey Milk Colony, collector of Mumbai Suburban, municipal commissioner, principal secretary of environment and the superintendent of the garden department of the civic body regarding this.

No action on fuel station?

Stalin even alleged that the fuel station itself has come up on reclaimed flood plains of the Mithi river and after the killing of trees. "We had complained about it but no action was taken by any of your departments, not even a site visit was conducted," Stalin said in the letter. He also claimed that satellite imagery shows the rapid degradation from 2021 to date.

"This complaint is about the encroachment and apparent killing of trees behind the Indian Oil petrol pump. The land in question belongs to Aarey Milk Colony. This degradation is happening in broad daylight. We urge you to remove the illegal encroachments and also investigate why the tall trees are apparently dying in large numbers," added Stalin.

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About Aarey

Spread across 16 sq km, Aarey Milk Colony is home not only to people from different walks of life, including tribals who have been living for generations, but also has a rich biodiversity. Several leopards stay there.

Aarey Milk Colony has a rich biodiversity and many leopards stay there. File pic/Pradip Dhivar

Aarey Milk Colony was established in 1949 and is situated in Goregaon East towards the southern border of Sanjay Gandhi National Park. It is one of the largest green areas, which shot into the global limelight after thousands of Mumbaikars joined hands and staged protests to try and protect 2,700 trees being chopped to make way for the Metro car shed.

16 sq km
Area of Aarey Milk Colony