Mumbai, Jun 7 (PTI) Aarey Colony authorities on Monday handed over 286.7 hectares of land to the Maharashtra government, paving the way for the protection of one of Mumbai's main green lungs.

A statement from the chief minister's office (CMO) said the Aarey land parcel handed over comprises 125 hectares in Borivali, 71 hectares in Goregaon and 89 hectares in Marol Maroshi.

The hand over has been made to the chief conservator of forests, which in turn will pave the way for creation of a jungle spread over 812 acres right in the middle of the metropolis, an official said.

The Uddhav Thackeray government had declared 800 acres of land in Aarey as reserve forest last year.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)