Advertisement

Updated September 7th, 2019 at 21:53 IST

Aarey Colony's last resort: Students ask Bear Grylls to help

The students of St Xavier's college have written to Bear Grylls as a last resort to ask him to help them rescue Aarey Colony from impending deforestation

Reported by: Akriti Tyagi
Aarey colony
| Image:self
Advertisement

Opposition against Aarey Colony's impending deforestation has been ongoing for the past week after the citizens found out about the proposal to fell the trees in the area in order to construct a Mumbai Metro car shed. Perturbed at the thought of losing the rare green patch of Aarey Colony in the urban jungle that Mumbai has become associated with, students of St Xavier's college have now written to the renowned British adventurer, Bear Grylls. They have sought his support to stop the felling of trees in Aarey Colony for Mumbai Metro.

READ I Aarey forest axing: Lata Mangeshkar firmly against 'tragic' decision

'Save Aarey' movement

Some students of St Xavier's college joined hands with KAASH Foundation and have written to Bear Grylls, requesting him to back the 'Save Aarey' movement aimed at preventing deforestation in the Aarey Colony.

The St Xavier's students on September 5, in their letter to Bear Grylls, wrote that the "government is arbitrarily, and despite opposition from citizens, out to engage in state-sponsored environmental vandalism"; and he should voice support for those who are opposing it, reported PTI.
“This vandalism needs to be condemned outright,” read the letter. The students of St Xavier's college also urged Bear Grylls to personally come and gauge the situation.

READ I Aarey forest: Bombay High Court seeks answers from MMRDA and MCGM

In reply to this, the students received an auto-generated email from his public relations office, saying "due to the volume of enquiries we receive we will only respond where necessary in taking an enquiry further."

Prof Avkash Jadhav, Head of the Department of History at St Xavier's college and trustee of KAASH Foundation who helped students send the letter, said, "Response from Bear Grylls will definitely add further sensitivity to this issue." 

READ I Shraddha Kapoor joins the protest to save Aarey forest, questions BMC

PM Modi's adventures with Bear Grylls

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently featured in Bear Grylls's popular TV show, "Man vs Wild", in which the two were shown trekking through the Jim Corbett National Park in Uttarakhand. The broadcast of the same had ended up breaking worldwide viewership records. The letter from the students of St Xavier's college also referred to this broadcast. 

READ I Man Vs Wild: PM Modi walks in the wild with Bear Grylls, talks about conserving nature

A week ago, the Maharashtra government had decided to allow around 2,700 trees to be cut in Aarey Colony to accommodate a car-shed of Mumbai Metro. The citizens have been voicing their concern ever since.

Advertisement

Published September 7th, 2019 at 18:55 IST

Your Voice. Now Direct.

Send us your views, we’ll publish them. This section is moderated.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending Quicks

Allu Arjun
a few seconds ago
Crew posters
a few seconds ago
Big Communication Gap Within the Congress: Sanjay Nirupam Targets Party Leadership | EXCLUSIVE
2 minutes ago
High-net-worth women show a nuanced approach to wealth with interest in alternative investments and cautious risk tolerance.
2 minutes ago
RCB vs KKR
15 minutes ago
Congress Press Conference
17 minutes ago
France has approached 46 countries for the possible provision of over 2,000 police officers and several military personnel.
21 minutes ago
Terrorist Attack At Crocus City Hall, Moscow, Russia
28 minutes ago
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Whatsapp logo