18:57 October 05
Police arrest 38 and detain 55 during protest
According to the police, as many as 38 people were arrested out of which 29 were produced before the Borivali Court, which sent them to judicial custody.
In addition to these, the police also detained 55 protesters for allegedly violating the prohibitory orders imposed near the Aarey colony area.
17:22 October 05
Bombay HC rejects greens' plea seeking stay on tree-felling at Aarey
The Bombay high court refused to grant a stay on cutting of trees in Aarey Colony to make way for a metro car shed.
A few green activists moved a fresh application seeking a stay on the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL's) action of chopping trees in the area.
Justice SC Dharmadhikar has refused urgent mentioning in the case and asked the petitioners to approach Chief Justice of Bombay High Court
17:05 October 05
Aarey is the most important issue for me right now: Uddhav Thackeray
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray said that he would take detailed information about Aarey and will speak firmly, directly on the issue.
"Aarey is the most important issue for me right now. Whatever is happening today, whatever was happening yesterday and whatever will happen in future, I will take detailed and in-depth information of what the situation is, will speak firmly and directly on the issue," said Thackeray.
16:35 October 05
Nirupam, Deora decry felling of trees
Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam condemned felling of trees at Aarey Colony and arrest of protesting activists.
Milind Deora, his party colleague, called the tree cutting "stabbing yourself in the lungs".
Talking to reporters near the site of protests, Nirupam, a former MP, also said that the Shiv Sena was adopting double standard, as it condemned tree felling but continues to support the BJP-led government.
"Such double standard would not do," he said.
Saying that the state government should respect wishes of the people, he asked why the tree cutting was started at night.
"We are not against the car shed but constructing it inside the Aarey forest will be catastrophic," he said.
Deora, another former Congress MP from the city, said that the "brutal" felling of trees was a setback for Mumbai.
"It's like repeatedly stabbing yourself in the lungs. When cities destroy coastlines and green cover, they are advancing the doomsday clock," he tweeted
15:59 October 05
29 held after prohibitory orders imposed; HC rejects plea for stay
After activists launched protest opposing tree-felling in Aarey Colony for metro work, the Mumbai Police on Saturday imposed Section 144 of the CrPC near the metro car shed construction site. Hundreds of protesters, environmental activists gathered in and protested, which led to the police arresting 29 people.
15:16 October 05
'Protestors arrested under non-bailable sections'
15:06 October 05
'Development and environment protection should go together'
Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday backed the proposed metro shed in Aarey forest area and said that development and environment protection should be done together.
"The High Court has ruled that Aarey is not a forest. Metro came to Delhi now today it is the best metro across the world. How does it develop? When the first metro station was constructed, 20-25 trees were cut down. People then protested against it. But the metro has planted 5 trees for every single tree that it has taken down," he said.
"Now, there are 271 stations. The forest undercover area has increased in Delhi. 30 lakh people are using the metro as public transport," Union Minister added.
14:55 October 05
15-day notice period not required to fell trees: Mumbai Metro chief
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Chief Ashmini Bhide termed the 15 days of notice period between the grant for felling trees and carrying out the task as per the order, as 'false propoganda.'
14:38 October 05
Send Metro officials to PoK to destroy terror camps rather than trees: Thackeray Jr.
Terming the axing of trees in Aarey Colony as "shameful and disgusting", Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday tweeted that the Mumbai Metro 3 officials should be posted in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) to destroy terror camps rather than trees.
In a series of tweets, he also said that several environmentalists and even local Shiv Sena members tried to stop the tree felling.
"This ego battle taken up by Metro 3 is destroying the purpose of making it," the 29-year-old leader, who is contesting the Assembly election from Worli constituency in Mumbai, said.
"The vigour with which the Mumbai Metro 3 is slyly and swiftly cutting down an ecosystem in Aarey is shameful and disgusting. How about posting these officials in POK giving them charge to destroy terror camps rather than trees," Thackeray tweeted.
13:23 October 05
An activist hugging a tree at the entry into the Aarey Forest from Marol Maroshi Road where Section 144 has been imposed.
12:48 October 05
Actor Dia Mirza who is a UN Goodwill Ambassador expressed her worry and tweeted, "400 trees have been cut in the dead of the night. As citizens sang and joined hands in unity pleading to STOP this massacre. Can't you see they are UNITED by love!?! Love for nature. Love for our children and our future. #Aarey #ClimateAction #ActNow #ChangeIsComing."
12:45 October 05
Bollywood stars extend support to activists over tree-felling at Aarey
Celebrities from Bollywood vented out their anger on social media after authorities began cutting down trees at Mumbai's Aarey Colony for a metro car shed.
Voicing his concern, actor Farhan Akhtar wrote on Twitter, "Cutting trees at night is a pathetic attempt at trying to get away with something even those doing it know is wrong. #Aarey #GreenIsGold #Mumbai."
Actor Shraddha Kapoor, who earlier joined Mumbai protestors to support their opposition to the decision by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's Tree Authority to slash 2,700 trees in the Aarey forest to make the metro car shed, expressed her anger on Instagram.
Meanwhile, actors like Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar had supported the metro project.
12:15 October 05
PM Modi's empty rhetoric on nature was just a crowd pleaser: Congress
"So much for being a crusader for the environment. PM Modi's empty rhetoric on protecting nature was just a crowd pleaser for global audiences, back home his govt's actions are wildly different," INC tweeted.
12:08 October 05
11:51 October 05
Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi detained as protest continues at the project site at Aarey. Heavy police deployment is in place as hundreds gather to stop BMC's metro project at the cost of felling trees.
11:38 October 05
Aarey colony stands in solidarity as protest continues against tree-felling
Speaking to ETV Bharat, local residents claim that around 30-40 were detained by the Mumbai police as they protest against tree-felling in Aarey forest. One of the detainees further stated that Police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse activists sitting on a hunger strike!
A bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Bharati Dangre dismissed four petitions filed by NGOs and environment activists related to Aarey Colony in Goregaon, a major green lung of the metropolis.
It also dismissed a petition filed by activist Zoru Bathena seeking that Aarey be declared a floodplain and challenging the civic body's approval to Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd to cut 2,656 trees in Aarey Colony to set up a car shed.
The bench imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on Shiv Sena corporator Yashwant Jadhav, who had filed a plea against the approval granted by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's tree authority. Jadhav is a member of the tree authority.
10:55 October 05
10:35 October 05
Cutting trees a violation of MCC: AAP Spokesperson
Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Preeti Sharma Menon said cutting the trees was "a violation of the model code of conduct."
"The order was uploaded by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation only today, so it is deemed as an order today. They can't issue such orders when the code of conduct is in place," she told.
"Tree Act says after permission is out online there is a 15 day cooling off period before cutting," she added.
10:34 October 05
Heavy police deployment in Aarey Colony amid protests over cutting of trees
The entire Aarey Colony was cordoned off by Mumbai police on Saturday morning after hundreds of green activists tried to stop the felling of trees in the area. Environment activists alleged that metro corporation wants to finish the job before October 10, when the matter comes before the National Green Tribunal.
10:09 October 05
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC imposed in the area near the metro-rail project site in Aarey Forest. A protest was held last night against the felling of trees, after the Bombay High Court order.
10:06 October 05
Aaditya Thackeray blasts BMC move on clearing Aarey colony
Aaditya Thackeray, Shiv Sena youth wing leader and son of party president Uddhav Thackeray, expressed his concerns over BMC move.
In a tweet, he said, "The project supposed to get Mumbai clean air, is hacking down a forest with a leopard, rusty-spotted cat and more."
09:32 October 05
Aarey protest LIVE: Borivali Court sends 29 activists to judicail custody
Mumbai:Hours after the Bombay High Court dismissed petitions opposing tree-felling in Aarey Colony, in north Mumbai, a prime green lung of the city for Metro work, felling of trees is underway as protest continues.
Of over 2,600 trees which are to be felled, 200 had been cut by Friday night, activists alleged. Videos of tree-felling went viral on social media, at the site of the proposed car shed with heavy police deployment.
Hundreds of activists have gathered at Aarey in protest against the tree-felling.
Earlier, the Bombay High Court refused to declare Aarey colony a forest and also declined to quash the BMC tree authority's decision allowing felling of over 2,600 trees in the suburban green zone to pave way for a metro car shed.
A division bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Justice Bharati Dangre dismissed four petitions filed by NGOs and environmental activists on issues related to Aarey colony in Goregaon, a major green lung of the metropolis.