Environmental activist Zoru Bhathena has moved the Bombay High Court against a notice issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Tree Authority that invited feedback on the plan to remove 177 trees at Aarey, describing it to be “in breach of a Supreme Court order”.
In his public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking the quashing of the notice, Bhathena claimed on January 21 that the notice was issued on the basis of an application from the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL).
Refusing to stay the Maharashtra government decision to allow a car depot for the metro’s Line 3 to be set up in the Aarey region, the apex court on November 29, 2022, let the MMRCL pursue its application before the Tree Authority for felling 84 trees to construct a ramp for the project.
