With nature trails, photothons, bird watching, locals gear up to save Aarey

“We will have a Surya Namaskar competition in the heart of Aarey colony. We want people to enjoy fresh air and the beautiful greenery of Aarey. Only when they see and experience it, will people begin to care for it. That’s all we want,” said Manish Gadia, a core group member.

For the uninitiated, Kshitij — a volunteer — has mapped all the “doomed” trees using Google maps. “When you see it visually, it hits you,” he said. Next, there are plans to organise nature trails and bird watching for children as well as ‘nature drawing’ competition and photothons for others.

Once the notices were put up, Whatsapp groups have sprung up, followed by regular updates on Facebook and Twitter. A website is also under construction. The ‘Save Aarey’ group had been involved in tree plantation drives previously as well.

“I used to go for a run in Aarey since I was a kid, so the colony means a lot to me. I wanted to contribute something to the cause,” said Prashant Hublikar (23), a BTech Computer Science graduate, who is building the website. “We always say ‘kuch karna hai’. When the notices came up, I got my chance to do something to save my favourite part of Mumbai,” he added. The website will have information about Aarey and proposed projects, agendas of future meetings and on upcoming events.

While awareness and garnering public support is the core focus of the group, several NGOs such as Vanashakti, Observer Research Foundation and Volunteer for Better India are relying on public interest litigations, meetings with BMC and MMRDA officials to save the trees. Their next big plan is to get the government to declare Aarey a forest zone and transfer the land to the forest department.

The residents are also opposing is the proposed ‘international zoo’ at Aarey and the road-widening project. Instead, the groups want to retain the green space, strengthen existing roads and most importantly, improve the waste management system in Aarey.

On Tuesday, a core group member, Manish Sethia, met ward officials to kickstart the 52-week ‘Clean Aarey Year 2015’ programme — in which younger volunteers will regularly recee designated areas of Aarey to report on garbage disposal and sensitise locals.

“We need to focus on the issues of over one lakh people inhabiting Aarey — in the padas and illegal slums. Unless we help resolve their issues, we won’t get the support we need to save Aarey,” said Sethia.

Ramakant Biradar, Assistant Commissioner, P/South ward, said: “Unfortunately, due to various reasons, our garbage collection vans did not reach the inner pada area. Now, after discussion with the Save Aarey group, we will supply dustbins and send in our vans. They will help sensitise people in the meantime to segregate waste and make use of garbage bins.”

anjali.lukose@expressindia.com