Mumbai's 200-week protest to save Aarey Forest defies rain and time

The 'Sundays For Aarey' movement has reached a significant milestone. Citizens in Mumbai marked 200 consecutive weeks of protest to protect Aarey, one of the city’s last urban forests. The campaign continues to draw attention to the threat of development on this biodiverse land. Aarey spans over 3,100 acres of land, including forests, grasslands, cattle sheds, and tribal settlements. It hosts a rich variety of wildlife, from leopards and deer to reptiles, butterflies, and numerous plant species. The area has long been a point of contention between conservationists and developers.

The 'Save Aarey' movement began around 2010, gaining momentum in 2014 when trees were at risk of being felled for a Metro car shed project. Activists have since demanded that Aarey be declared a 'No Development Zone' to safeguard its ecosystem. The weekly 'Sundays For Aarey' protests started on 3 July 2022, with campaigners gathering at Birsa Munda Chowk in Aarey Milk Colony, even in heavy monsoon rain.

Reshma Shelatkar called the movement 'probably the longest continuous campaign anywhere in the world to save an urban forest.' Rusi Nariman, a 79-year-old Bandra resident and regular protester, has repeatedly voiced concerns about nature being destroyed in the name of progress. Support for the cause has grown, with various organisations and citizens joining the demonstrations. The protests have now run for nearly four years without interruption. The campaigners remain determined to protect Aarey’s biodiversity and prevent further development. Their efforts highlight the ongoing tension between urban expansion and conservation in Mumbai.