After Metro car shed, biz hub, Mumbai DP marks waste centre at Aarey Colony

The plan for Aarey not only includes the Metro car shed, Goregaon-Mulund link road and business hub, but also has a solid waste sorting centre, a move that has left activists fuming.

The BMC’s draft development plan (DP) seems to have accounted for every possible way to destroy Mumbai's green lung, Aarey Colony. The plan for Aarey not only includes the Metro car shed, Goregaon-Mulund link road and business hub, but also has a solid waste sorting centre, a move that has left activists fuming.

According to civic officials, the waste from across the ward will be brought to the centre, which is proposed to come up along the Film City road, for segregation. “Demarcating a sorting centre on forest land is a ridiculous idea. The authorities seem to be keen on destroying the greenery at Aarey Colony. We won’t let it happen. Objections have been filed,” said Stalin D, from NGO Vanashakti.

The draft DP has proposed to convert the green lung into a business and commercial hub, which was opposed by environmentalists and local residents. For the Metro-3 car shed, too, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation has plans to hack over 2,298 trees in the colony.

“The authorities want garbage spread all over Aarey. Aarey is a popular tourist spot and the garbage centre will only drive people away. The Film City road will see traffic of garbage vans, if the centre comes up. The area will lose its charm,” said Godfrey Pimenta, trustee of Watchdog Foundation.