Mumbai Metro chief Ashwini Bhide has claimed as “false propaganda” concerns that a mandatory 15-day notice period between grant of approval to cut trees and the real cutting was not met.
In a message posted on social media, Ms Bhide also referred to Friday’s Bombay High Court order on the Aarey trees and hit out at activists continuing to oppose the cutting of trees, insisting that it was their actions that were “illegal”.
“A new false propaganda is in the air that 15 days’ notice is required after tree authority order getting uploaded on website. This is absolutely baseless. Tree Authority order is issued on 13th Sept 19. 15 days r over on 28th Sept. Action awaited till Hon HC verdict was out,” Ashwini Bhide, Managing Director, Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) said.
On September 17, when the Bombay High Court began hearing petitions challenging the cutting of Aarey trees, the petitioners’ counsel made a similar observation, stating that the Tree Authority’s order dated September 13 is illegal. On Friday the court cancelled petitions and the process to raze the trees began mere hours later.
