Development or Destruction? The Rising Tide of Tree Cutting in Pimpri-Chinchwad

Pimpri-Chinchwad, 27th November 2024: Despite efforts to plant over one lakh trees annually, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) seems to be facing a growing contradiction. The very same corporation that actively plants trees also grants permission to cut down thousands of trees each year, leading to a decrease in the city’s green cover.

The PCMC Garden Department is responsible for the city’s tree plantation initiatives. However, environmentalists and citizens alike are raising alarms as the rate of tree cutting continues to rise. In the name of development projects such as road widening, underground service channels, and construction work, trees are being felled across various parts of the city.

Additionally, many trees are being cut down due to obstruction of advertisements, shopfronts, and offices, or simply because of leaf litter.
The situation is further exacerbated by the cutting of trees on the Pimpri to Nigdi route to facilitate metro construction. Moreover, it has been observed that illegal tree cutting is also on the rise, with many trees being felled without proper authorization.

The cost of cutting trees on private land is another contributing factor. For just ten thousand rupees, the Garden Department grants permission to cut trees, making it relatively easy for individuals to remove trees on their property. This has led to a sharp increase in tree cutting, with the PCMC Garden Department struggling to control illegal actions.

Despite these challenges, the Garden Department has managed to plant a significant number of trees. This year, they have already planted 1,60,000 saplings, with a target of 2,00,000 trees by the end of the year. The plantation efforts have been concentrated in the Dehu Road, Dehu Cantonment, Dighi, and near Aundh. Additionally, 25,260 bamboo trees have been planted, and 40,000 more saplings are slated for open spaces and roadsides.

Umesh Dhakane, Assistant Commissioner of the PCMC Garden Department, assured that the department takes complaints about unauthorized tree cutting seriously. “Whenever complaints of illegal tree cutting are received, we take immediate action, investigate, and file cases,” Dhakane said.

The situation raises important questions about balancing urban development with environmental conservation. As the city grows, it remains to be seen how effectively the PCMC will address these concerns and protect the city’s dwindling green spaces.