Dear reader,

When the Shiv Sena rebel Eknath Shinde was sworn in as chief minister of Maharashtra in July this year, one of his government's first moves was to order that work on a metro carshed be continued in Aarey Colony. 

After years of protests against the construction in the ecologically sensitive area, the previous government had ordered that the carshed by shifted to another location, in Kanjurmarg. The Shinde government's decision reversed this order, putting Aarey in the crosshairs again. 

In response, dismayed protestors resumed their weekly protests in Aarey against the decision. 

If some were fighting to protect a vital green space in the city, others were fighting for their very identity. For years, the Adivasis of Aarey have seen their lands taken away piece by piece for a range of projects, including a college and a camp for a commando unit.

As Nolina Minj found, with this loss of land, their entire way of life has come under threat – a way of life that is in harmony with the rich diversity of plant and animal life in Aarey. As one activist said, “It is Adivasis who have maintained the environment. You don’t have the right to destroy it."

You can read the story here.

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Ajay Krishnan
Senior Editor