Retired SC Judge Abhay Oka Raises Concerns Over Felling of 3,000 Trees for Thane Metro

Retired Supreme Court judge Abhay Oka has expressed concern over the proposed felling of nearly 3,000 trees for the Thane Internal Circular Metro project, urging citizens to actively raise objections to the large-scale tree cutting.

Speaking at a lecture on “Environmental Conservation and Protection – A Forgotten Fundamental Duty” held at Joshi-Bedekar College in Thane on Sunday in memory of late Dr. Ashok Narayan Bapat, Oka highlighted several environmental issues affecting the region.

Referring to the metro project, Oka said citizens cannot be blamed for not objecting to tree-felling proposals because public notices are often published in very small formats and fail to provide detailed information about the trees that will be affected. He called upon residents to register objections and participate in the decision-making process.

Oka also criticised the ongoing concretisation around Thane’s lakes, describing it as alarming. He warned that such developments, along with increasing river pollution, reflect a lack of scientific thinking in environmental planning.

The former judge remarked that while Indians often take pride in their rich cultural heritage, compliance with laws has not become an integral part of the country's culture. “Until adherence to the law becomes a cultural value, the effectiveness of laws will remain negligible,” he said.

He further noted that the Yeoor forest area within Sanjay Gandhi National Park has witnessed significant environmental degradation in recent years. Oka also expressed concern that environmental activists frequently face neglect despite their efforts to protect natural resources.