Pune: AAP to Protest Against PMC Over Permission to Cut 25,000 Trees, Citing Environmental Concerns
Pune, 3rd August 2025: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Pune has accused the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) of granting permission to cut down 25,000 trees, and has announced a protest against this decision. The protest, called ‘Jhadanchi Antim Yatra’ (Trees’ Final Journey), is scheduled for Monday.
Adv. Krunnal Gharre made the announcement at a press conference, stating, “Despite the requirement to plant three and a half saplings for every tree cut, not even one has been planted.” AAP Pune City President Sudarshan Jagdale and Amol Kale were also present at the briefing. Gharre questioned why, when trees are cut with PMC’s permission, the mandated replacement trees are not being planted.
The protest will take the form of a march from Balgandharva Rang Mandir to the PMC Administrative Building.
Gharre further commented, “Developmental works are underway in Pune. Authorities consider it acceptable to cut trees while these projects proceed, but the law clearly states that for every tree cut, new trees must be planted either within the city or elsewhere. Builders are allowed to cut down trees by paying a deposit, but even though PMC is collecting these deposits, significant damage is still being done to the environment.”
According to Gharre, between April 2022 and December 2023, permission was granted to cut 10,502 trees and transplant 11,860 trees. A total of 3.4 lakh trees are expected to be replanted using approximately Rs 22.5 crore collected from various organizations. However, Gharre alleged there is no evidence of where these trees were actually planted. He also claimed that misleading information was provided regarding the age of the trees being cut.
