Mumbai: Plastic menace in Aarey; wildlife, forest under severe threat

Plastic and waste from nearby slums threaten deer, snakes, and forest life in Mumbai’s green zone

Illegal dumping of garbage from nearby slum areas adjoining the forest is emerging as a serious threat to the wildlife and biodiversity of Aarey Milk Colony . Nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers have warned that without a proper waste collection and disposal system, the forest could soon turn into a dumping ground.

Abhishek Patil, a Jogeshwari resident, Yuva Sena office bearer, and avid nature lover, frequently visits Aarey. During a recent visit to Durga Nagar near JVLR, he was shocked to see heaps of garbage and plastic waste dumped close to the forest. The waste, allegedly from nearby slums, poses a serious threat to wild animals, including spotted deer, who are often attracted to th