Mumbai, November 29: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Friday ordered to stop the ongoing work of Aarey metro car shed project in Mumbai's Aarey colony. He maintained the metro work in the city will not stop. However, not a single leaf of Aarey will be cut, he said. Over 2,000 trees of Aarey Colony- a green locality amid the urban sprawl of Goregaon- were chopped between October 4 and 6 for Metro car shed work, before the Supreme Court announced the ban on felling trees. Aarey Tree Cutting: Video Shows Authorities Starts Chopping Down Trees Hours After Bombay High Court Dismisses Petition, Twitterati Cries Foul.

"I have ordered to stop the work of Aarey metro car shed project today. Metro work will not stop but till next decision, not a single leaf of Aarey will be cut," the Chief Minister said. Mumbai Metro Work: 61% Trees Transplanted in Aarey Forest Area Dead.

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"I am the first Chief Minister who was born in Mumbai. It is going on in my mind, what I can do for the city," he added. Aarey Tree Cutting: 29 Arrested by Mumbai Police Amid Protest in Aarey Colony.

Reacting to the development, Aaditya Thackeray said, "All the people of Mumbai are happy with this decision. Development works will continue but the harm that was being done to the environment will be stopped."

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Following petitions by activists, the Supreme Court had earlier stayed further felling of trees in Aarey colony. Mumbai Metro had claimed that they had planted over 5,000 and assured that no trees have cut been since the ban was imposed.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 29, 2019 05:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).