Celebrities protest order to cut trees in forest for metro

BOLLYWOOD actor Shraddha Kapoor on Sunday joined the protest against the proposed felling of over 2700 trees in Aarey forest to build a metro carshed, terming the decision of the civic body’s Tree Authority “ridiculous”. Several others took to Twitter asking the Government to reconsider and reverse it. The Tree Authority of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday gave its nod to cut over 2,700 trees for a Metro car shed in the Aarey Colony adjoining suburban Goregaon which is known as the major green lung of the city.

As part of the protest, a human chain was formed by people on Sunday morning at Aarey forest. Shraddha said she joined the protest to register her complaint over the “shocking” permission which was granted and hoped it would be reversed. Going live on her Instagram account, the actor said, “All of us are here to support mother nature. We already have pollution problems, so how can permission to chop off trees be given? “How can you give permission to cut the lungs of Mumbai? 2700 plus trees are said to be cut, which is ridiculous, this permission which has been granted is ridiculous.

This can’t happen,” the actor added. Shraddha isn’t the only Bollywood celebrity to have voiced concern over the decision. Tagging Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, actor Dia Mirza took to Twitter and wrote, “Not against the metro. Please build it. But not at the cost of disrupting an ecological system that provides invaluable human services.

Alternatives for the car shed exist.” “It may take more time. But choose better! Stop massacre of Aarey Forest,” Dia added. Actor Raveena Tandon also expressed outrage against the decision, tweeting, “Shocking that we are letting this happen. Why are the citizens’ voices not being heard?” Actor Randeep Hooda said cutting down of trees at Aarey was a “really sad news” and tagged PM Narendra Modi, along with Maharashtra CM.