Aarey: Farhan, Shraddha, Dia vent anger against tree-cutting

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL) started cutting trees late Friday night to make way for its car shed, hours after the Bombay High Court dismissed four petitions filed by NGOs and activists challenging the decision to allow felling of trees in the prime green lung of the city. 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, though it could not be confirmed from Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation officials if indeed tree cutting for the planned metro car shed in Aarey had begun. The protest was supported by members of Aam Aadmi Party as well as Shiv Sena scion Aaditya Thackeray who criticised the alleged move in a series of tweet.

Shiv Sena Priyanka Chaturvedi detained by Mumbai Police near Aarey

Bollywood celebrities took to their social media handles to express their disappointment and anger on this move. Actor Farhan Akhtar wrote that it was a 'pathetic attempt' to cut trees at night. 'Saaho'actress Shraddha Kapoor who has been actively protesting against this decision and was also seen joining Mumbai protestors sometime back, also posted a series of pictures and articles on her Instagram handle saying: "This is wrong and should not be happening" and "Mumbaikars wake up".

Aarey: Section 144 imposed after protest against felling of trees

Actor Dia Mirza who is a UN Goodwill Ambassador also wrote that 400 trees were cut in 'the dead of the night' and Richa Chadha, who is also an environment lover posed and raised questions on her Twitter handle. She asked, "Who gets rich(er) because of this metro car shed? Everything about this is shady from the get-go, including how the first signatures for the tree felling were obtained."

Protests in Aarey against tree-cutting; activists say 200 trees felled

Yami Gautam, Urmila Matondkar, Pooja Bhatt and other celebrities raised their concern.

Aaditya Thackeray slams tree-felling in Aarey, calls move 'shameful'

Section 144 imposed at Aarey

Earlier on Saturday, Section 144 was imposed in the area from the entrance into Aarey to Marol Maroshi Road. Protests in Aarey colony broke out after the authorities from Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) started cutting trees in the area following Bombay High Court's dismissal of all petitions challenging the felling of trees. 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. The protest was supported by members of Aam Aadmi Party as well as Shiv Sena leaders including scion Aaditya Thackeray, who criticised the move in a series of tweets.

(With PTI inputs)