Concerned Citizens in Pune Launch Petition Urging Preservation of 100,000 Trees

Pune, 17th February 2024: Faced with looming threats to Pune’s green cover, citizens associated with Puneसंवाद have initiated a petition on Jhatkaa.org, titled ‘Save 100,000 Trees in Pune!’.

The petition is a call to action for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to rigorously enforce the Maharashtra Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, comply with the High Court’s December 2023 order to cease tree cutting, conduct a thorough tree census, and establish an expert committee to balance tree conservation with ongoing infrastructure projects like road widening and metro development.

The petition underscores the critical role of trees as life-sustaining entities, providing essential benefits such as air purification, shade, pollution control, and habitat for wildlife. The campaign is a response to imminent large-scale infrastructure projects, including the River Front Development project along the Mula Mutha, the proposed 8-lane, 30-meter road from Manjari to Shivajinagar threatening 10,000 old-growth trees at Bundgarden Joggers Park, and other ventures jeopardizing Pune’s biodiversity and green spaces.

Citizens have actively rallied to protect 393 old-growth trees along Ganeshkhind Road, advocating for alternative solutions to preserve these invaluable assets. Additionally, the Pune Tree Authority conducted a Public Hearing on February 13 to discuss the fate of trees near Sadhu Vaswani Bridge and Ramtekdi Flyover, where authorities intend to widen the bridge, potentially endangering trees.

During the public hearing, citizens argued against the proposed widening, citing the absence of traffic congestion at the location. They proposed a sufficient 4-lane bridge instead of the planned 3 lanes on both sides. However, the authorities have not presented alternative designs, violating the Maharashtra Tree Act, which mandates the provision of alternative designs for projects incorporating existing trees.

Concerns were raised at the hearing about the uprooting of 56 trees at North Main Road, previously promised to be transplanted at Hadapsar Industrial Estate, with no evidence of their survival. Compensatory afforestation for the 19,000 trees lost in the past two years is yet to see progress.

The urgency to safeguard Pune’s green spaces is emphasized to prevent irreversible damage, addressing issues such as air pollution, urban heat, and flooding. Authorities are urged to adopt eco-friendly building practices, devise plans for world-class public transport, and integrate trees into architectural designs.

Ameet Singh, Founder of Puneसंवाद, expressed concern over continuous efforts by the roads department to reduce Pune’s tree cover, highlighting instances of tree felling on Ganeshkhind Road. Singh emphasized the need for sustainable urban planning, promoting efficient public transportation, and creating tree-lined avenues.

Marishia, a climate and Air Pollution Campaigner at Jhatkaa.org, stressed the cumulative impact of widespread tree cutting, urging citizens to act now to prevent further degradation of urban spaces.