A total of 670 citizens recently sent letters to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray and the Principal Secretary asking the government to scrap the cycle track projects at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Powai Lake and Vihar Lake. However, recently published reports state that the CMO has returned the unopened letters. The courier service stamped ‘No Entry' and 'Not accepted' stamps on the letters which were returned to the sender’s address.
A campaign was run in October 2021 and support was sought from more than 670 Mumbaikars who supported youth activists’ decision of demanding scrapping of the cycle track. Suggestions and additional points were mentioned in the letter which stated that the construction of cycle track could harm the wildlife habitat and other environmental aspects.
Demands were made to offer better clarity of the projects not keep the documents in secrecy. Activists added that the project could destroy and threaten the environment, both wildlife and forest and hence all project-related documents should be made available to the public. Citizens who have signed the letter have also demanded public hearing to clear the concerns faced by the public. Detailed information was mentioned in the letter sent to the officials from the government.
The Bombay High Court (HC) has also placed a stay on the Powai cycle track project post a PIL filed by the students from IIT. Citizens have been coming to Powai Lake, every Sunday for over two months, and have raised their concerns regarding the project. Despite the same, the government has begun work in the SGNP premises.
Besides the above-mentioned officials, the activists have also sent letters to Mumbai Mayor, BMC’s Municipal Commissioner, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Dy. Municipal Commissioner, Maharashtra State Forest Department, etc.
Share
Tweet
