“Axe the Plan, Not Trees”: Citizens Oppose PMC’s Mula Riverfront Tree Cutting Project in Pune
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Aundh, 26th May 2026: A tense and emotionally charged public hearing over the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) proposal to cut trees for the Mula riverfront development project witnessed strong opposition from residents, environmentalists, activists, and civil society groups at the Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi Auditorium in Aundh on Monday.
The hearing, which lasted more than four hours, revolved around PMC’s proposal to fell 163 trees and transplant several others along the Mula riverbank in Balewadi as part of the ambitious riverfront development project. However, citizens alleged that the process lacked transparency, scientific assessment, and legal clarity.
Residents accused the PMC of failing to publish a separate and complete docket for all 689 trees in the riverbank zone. Several attendees claimed that the hearing addressed only a limited number of trees while ignoring the ecological impact on the larger riparian ecosystem.
Many citizens questioned the legality of the hearing itself, alleging procedural lapses and inadequate public notification. Activists argued that the Tree Authority was incomplete and not functioning in accordance with legal norms, raising concerns over whether such decisions could be taken legitimately.
The packed auditorium witnessed repeated confrontations between residents and officials, as participants demanded answers on environmental impact studies, flood-line demarcation, biodiversity loss, and the long-term consequences of concretising riverbanks.
Environmental groups also raised concerns over the inclusion of heritage and mature trees in the proposed cutting list. Citizens alleged discrepancies in species identification and questioned the scientific methods used to classify trees for transplantation or removal.
Speaking strongly against the proposal, social reformer Anne Anish said:
> “Development cannot come at the cost of destroying living ecosystems. Rivers are not beautification projects; they are ecological lifelines. Citizens are not opposing progress; they are opposing irresponsible planning that ignores nature and public participation.”
Environmentalist Ameet Singh criticised the process followed by civic authorities and called for an independent environmental review.
> “The PMC must understand that cutting old trees in floodplain areas will permanently damage Pune’s ecological balance. Urban planning today must focus on restoration, not destruction. A transparent scientific assessment should happen before a single tree is touched,” he said.
Environmental activist Rekha Joshi also voiced concern over the larger environmental implications of the project.
> “The riverfront project is being presented as development, but citizens fear it could become another example of ecological damage in the name of urban infrastructure. Pune is already facing rising temperatures and flooding concerns. Removing green cover near rivers will worsen the crisis,” she stated.
Several attendees demanded an immediate stay on all tree-felling permissions until an expert environmental committee comprehensively reviews the project. Protesters also argued that any proposal affecting flood-line zones should undergo stricter ecological scrutiny.
Citizens further alleged that the hearing appeared more like a procedural formality than a genuine consultation exercise. Many participants expressed frustration that objections submitted earlier had not received satisfactory responses.
PMC officials, however, maintained that all procedures were being followed according to existing rules and assured residents that objections raised during the hearing would be documented and forwarded to the Tree Authority for consideration.
The hearing ended amid continued slogans, protests, and demands for cancellation of the current proposal, reflecting growing public resistance to large-scale tree cutting linked to urban infrastructure projects in Pune.
