For the past three years, environmentalists from Vanshakti, along with a few activists and students, have been putting up a tough fight to protect Aarey forest and safeguard our future. However, now these green crusaders have been barred from entering the location where the work for the metro car shed has already begun. A recent air quality measurement by System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) found Mumbai’s Air Quality Index to be at 244 (‘poor’) -- higher even than Delhi which fell from 204 to 183 (‘moderate’). In fact, PM2.5 levels in Mumbai, recorded at 109, were almost twice the safe limit. It is a well known fact that green cover in cities can help tackle rising air pollution -- The Nature Conservancy’s study reports how urban trees can remove up to a quarter of PM pollution within a few meters, and can even function as a barrier for local residents, filtering bad air. When government officials and citizens all over the world are investing in tree plantation drives to tackle air pollution and climate change, the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) is determined to fell 3,500 for a metro car shed. The Aarey forest is a part of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and supports an entire ecosystem of its own, with a rich biodiversity. An ecosystem like this takes hundreds of years to build up, and cannot be re-planted over night. We are not against the expansion of the metro in Mumbai, but an ecologically sensitive area like Aarey forest, which functions are the largest natural air purifier for the city, cannot be cleared for the metro car shed. There are plenty of non-residential, and industrial locations for the metro car shed to be constructed -- but, not at the cost of Mumbai’s lungs. The MMRC has gone ahead with the project without waiting for the National Green Tribunal to pass its verdict on declaring Aarey as a forest. We need your support to let CM Fadnavis know that breathing clean air is our right. If enough people lend their voice to our fight for clean air, we can put pressure on the CM to relocate the metro car shed. People power has worked before, and we know it will work again! Sources: India Times https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/increasing-tree-cover-in-mega-indian-cities-can-help-reduce-particulate-matter-and-temperatures-264763.html Hindustan Times - http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/mumbai-s-air-quality-on-sunday-was-the-worst-for-this-winter/story-nL9Y67W9Bq1OBjTZlGDcZL.html The Hindu - http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/residents-move-hc-over-metro-shed-at-aarey/article19848519.ece

The Western Ghats is a mountain range spanning across 6 states. It is home to hundreds of plants, animals and birds. In the wake of the devastating Kerala floods, the Centre will soon issue a draft notification declaring Western Ghats as an eco sensitive area (ESA) In 2014, the Centre had issued a draft notification declaring the Western Ghats as an ESA but Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka objected this. Now, Karnataka is the only state raising objections to the new draft. Claiming it will “affect the State’s economy”1, Karnataka government is rejecting a petition that will ensure the prevention of mining and red category industrial activities, which includes polluting industries like pesticides and petrochemicals, in the Ghats. An official from Karnataka’s forest ministry has disclosed that ministers in the state government have mining interests in the ghats2, hence refusing to abide by Centre’s draft. Vested political interests shouldn’t stand in the way of preventing further disasters like the ones we saw in Kerala and Karnataka just two months ago! Sign the petition asking Karnataka CM, H.D.Kumaraswamy to declare Western Ghats as an eco sensitive area. Sources 1. https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/karnataka-oppose-centres-notification-declaring-western-ghats-eco-sensitive-88822 2. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/karnataka-rejects-centre-s-plan-to-declare-western-ghats-eco-sensitive-area/story-Zwb6n4vQpYSKsR6mA6kBsM.html

Bangalore is one of the few cities in India whose civic agency has a dedicated department for waste management. Despite this “organised” approach, burning of garbage is rampant in the city, especially in Whitefield, KR Puram, Bellandur, RR Nagar and Jayamahal. Most incidents happen at night and at the hands of illegal contractors. Besides the mess it creates, the fumes that emanate from such reckless burning are toxic and cause serious respiratory ailments like asthma. Garbage burning is also a leading cause of air pollution. It doesn’t help that in the past few years with rapid urbanisation, increase in the number of vehicles and construction activities, Bangalore’s air quality has dipped severely affecting the health of residents. Two years ago, Jhatkaa.org started a campaign to end this menace and after mobilising thousands of citizens, got Sarfaraz Khan to issue a notification against open burning of garbage. However, penalties and fines are not being enforced and the practice continues. The National Green Tribunal and Karnataka Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) have also prohibited garbage burning, with fines up to Rs 25,000. We’re tired of the BBMP indifference in curbing this problem, and cannot afford to have citizens falling prey to burning-induced health conditions. We want to be Garden City, not Garbage City. Join this campaign to tell the BBMP to hold offenders accountable and strictly enforce penalties for garbage burning in Bangalore.