Don’t cut trees in Aarey forest: Shabana

Veteran actress and social worker Shabana Azmi has urged the authorities to avoid cutting trees in Aarey Forest in Mumbai to build a metro car shed.

Shabana on Tuesday tweeted to urge people to raise their voice against the deforestation of 3,500 trees.

"Aarey forest is the lung forest for Mumbai. 3500 trees in Aarey forest will be cut to build a metro car shed if we don’t raise our voice. Ask CM Devendra Fadnavis and Ashwini Bhide, MD of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation to look for alternatives. MISSED CALL 08030630959," Shabana tweeted.

The Maharashtra government is reportedly planning to provide a part of Aarey forest for a Metro car shed, while environmentalists and citizens’ groups are fighting against the move as it is home to several species of birds, insects and leopards, and was once part of the adjoining Sanjay Gandhi National Park.