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Life Science Research and Sustainable Development ISBN: 978-98-84663-33-9

the metro car shed construction has already started has been denied to these environmental
crusaders. Already, over a hundred trees have been removed. Mumbai's air quality index was
244 (classified as "poor") according to the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and
Research (SAFAR), which is higher than Delhi's, which dropped from 204 to 183 (classified as
"moderate"). In fact, Mumbai's PM2.5 levels, which were 109, were nearly double the acceptable
limit. The Nature Conservancy's study shows how urban trees may remove up to a quarter of PM
pollution within a few meters, and can even serve as a barrier for nearby households, filtering
poor air. It is well known that urban greenery can assist in combating rising air pollution. Aarey
Forest, which is a portion of Sanjay Gandhi National Park, sustains a unique environment with a
wealth of species. Such an ecosystem cannot be quickly restored because it takes more years to
develop.

When people learned about it, the protests started right away. This is because Aarey Milk Colony
is a prized green area in the concrete jungle i.e, Mumbai. People have emerged to promote the
message of conservation and stand against the reverse as a result of rising environmental
consciousness. Additionally, it has just been learned that the removal of the trees could cause
significant flooding at the international airport since the Mithi River will receive extra water
during heavy rains. The list of negative effects we might experience as a result of giving up our
greens is numerous.

Threat to biodiversity because of the Metro car shed project

Environmentalists cited a 2019 report to highlight the long-term effects which the proposed
Mumbai Metro car shed 3 projects will have on the biodiversity of the Aarey forest in Mumbai.
The assessment states that the damages will make the area's flood risks worse.
The research project, which is being conducted by the Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for
Architecture and Environmental Studies (KRIVA), uses qualitative-spatial analysis to show how
current and future land use and cover may affect the watershed and ecosystems of the Aarey
terrain. According to Shweta Wagh, an associate professor at KRVIA and urban conservator, the
Aarey forest has shrunk from 1,300 ha to 800 ha over the past few decades as a result of changing
land usage. The area was initially designated as a "No Development Zone" and is meant to stay
that way. The final piece of forest connecting it to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park is where the
metro car shed, rehabilitation homes, and zoo are proposed. It functions as a corridor for wildlife.
However, constructing the infrastructure will completely cut it off from the national park and
endanger the ecological landscape.

The area serves as a buffer between the SGNP and where leopards still wander at night.
According to the Save Aarey movement, removing this buffer zone could result in undesirable
interactions between people and wildlife. Experts are concerned that as a result of the ecological
disruptions, the tribal people would be advised to relocate, which will negatively affect their way
of life, wildlife habitats, and the amount of forest cover.

According to the report, Aarey Forest serves as a buffer for the national park, thus any harm to
the forest region will affect the park both directly and indirectly. The city will be at risk since the
national park will be directly exposed to its river systems and catchment area. To safeguard the
national park from an ecological standpoint, Aarey was declared an ecologically sensitive zone

https://jesjalna.org/Zoology-Publications/index.html 59 Department of Zoology, J. E. S. College, Jalna