Development Or Destruction?
Nobody is against ‘Development’ but development against the degradation of the environment is unacceptable. Tsunami, global warming, climate change and scarcity of groundwater are all the repercussions of wanton development against the environment and its natural resources. Thus, as the English axiom goes, “Once bitten twice shy”, the present generation has witnessed the horrors of development. Hence, it is open to ‘Sustainable Development’ where the laws of Nature are not distributed.
In Mumbai, the Metro Project is under way. Surely, the Metro is the need of the hour to decongest the traffic menace and curtail long hours of journey. Hence, Mumbaikars have no objection to the Metro Project, but what is hurting Mumbaikars is the wanton slaughter of over 2,000 trees in Aarey colony for the Metro 3 car depot. Recently, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had invited public response on the fate of over 2,000 trees in Aarey colony. In response, BMC received a massive 82,000 objections to the proposal from angry Mumbaikars. In addition, 500 environment enthusiasts also attended a public hearing conducted by the Tree Authority of the BMC and expressed their discontent and staged a protest.
According to reports, there are 3,691 trees at the car depot site at Aarey colony, of which 2,238 trees will be felled and the remaining trees will be transplanted. It is being said the trees would be transplanted in various villages of Maharashtra, but environmentalists claim that, first of all, the Metro executing agencies do have the scientific knowledge of transplanting trees. Secondly, improper transplanting of trees leads to the death of green trees. Lastly, if the Mumbai trees are transplanted far away in Maharashtra villages then what use are they for Mumbaikars?
Thus, Mumbaikars are against development at the cost of the local green cover. Environmentalists claim that the green tracts like Aarey Colony and Sanjay Gandhi National Park are few green covers in Mumbai which are the only sources that shield us from pollution and help us breathe. If they become extinct, life would become hazardous. Hence, it is the responsibility of every Mumbaikar to protect them from being cut in the name of development.
In view of the foregoing, Home Times suggests the only solution to bring about development is through ‘Sustainable Development’ i.e. development that satisfies the demands of the present-day problems without disturbing the environment. Thus, the government must find a balance between the Development and Destruction.
