The Eknath Shinde government, in one of its first decisions after it came to power, reversed the previous MVA government's stand of not building the metro car shed in Aarey Colony.
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday asked the new Eknath Shinde-led government not to "stab Mumbai in the heart" as he expressed disappointment over the decision to go ahead with the controversial Aarey Colony metro car shed project, PTI reported.
The Eknath Shinde government, in one of its first decisions after it came to power, reversed the previous MVA government's stand of not building the Mumbai Metro-3 car shed in Aarey Colony, a forested area near the Sanjay Gandhi National Park. The MVA government had moved the construction of the car shed to the Kanjurmarg salt pans site.
Talking to reporters at the Shiv Sena headquarters, Thackeray said if the car shed was built in Kanjur area, then Mumbai Metro could be taken further to distant suburbs of Ambernath and Badlapur.
"I am very upset. If you are angry with me, then vent out your anger, but don't stab Mumbai in the heart. I am very upset that the Aarey decision has been overturned. This is not a personal property," PTI quoted Thackeray as saying.
In 2019, the Uddhav Thackeray-led MVA government had decided to scrap the decision of the previous Devendra Fadnavis regime to build a metro car shed in Aarey Colony. The decision came as environment activists had vehemently opposed the cutting of trees in Aarey for the car shed. The Thackeray government also declared Aarey as a reserved forest.
"I had stayed the decision. I gave the option of Kanjur (as alternative site). I am with the environmentalists," the Shiv Sena chief said.
"I am saying this with folded hands. Please do not take out your anger towards me on Mumbai. Don't play with its environment," he further said.
The Kanjur site is disputed land as both Centre and state government, besides many private entities, have staked claim over it.
Thackeray, an avid wildlife photographer, also said that when the trees were being cut in Aarey Colony for building the car shed during the Fadnavis government' time, pictures of leopards roaming freely in the area had appeared.
"My fear is that after you take Aarey land, there will be movement of people and it will endanger the wildlife in the surrounding area," he said.
State Congress President Nana Patole warned that shifting the car shed to Aarey would be detrimental to the health of the people and the city. "The MVA government decided against having the car shed there and identified the alternative Kanjurmarg site, but there were hurdles created by the Centre and the Opposition BJP," IANS quoted Patole as saying.
"This is recreating a problem solved by the MVA government. The green lung of Mumbai is in danger once again, what will he gain," said NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto.
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