Pune: PMC Pledges Citizen Consultation in Koregaon Park Tree Felling Decision
Koregaon Park, 26th January 2024: In a crucial meeting held at PMC Dhole Patil Road Ward Office regarding the contentious issue of tree felling in Koregaon Park, citizens and Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) representatives engaged in discussions on January 25 (Thursday). The PMC actively noted citizens’ suggestions and objections, providing assurance that citizens would be consulted before any decisions or actions regarding tree felling are undertaken.
Besides deliberating on the tree felling concerns, the meeting encompassed discussions on broader issues such as the construction of Sadhu Vaswani Bridge, traffic planning in various areas, and more.
A resident of Koregaon Park shared, “The meeting was productive, but it has been adjourned, not concluded. In subsequent meetings and site visits, the PMC is expected to update citizens on traffic diversification, the replantation of 81 trees on North Main Road, the rationale behind replanting in Hadapsar instead of Koregaon Park, accountability, and more. We also emphasized the need for a tree every 100 meters on footpaths and addressed several other concerns. The PMC will provide insights into traffic planning, tree replantation locations, and the 100-meter tree plantation on footpaths.”
Ameet Singh, a core member of Pune River Revival, highlighted, “During the meeting, the PMC specified that only 61 out of 161 trees at Sadhu Vaswani Bridge will be cut. Among these, 29 trees on the median of the bridge are not old. Efforts will be made to preserve the remaining 32 trees. We have requested an adjournment until genuine assurances are provided, signifying that no trees will be felled until alternative options are explored. The PMC has committed to a site visit with citizens at Sadhu Vaswani Bridge.”
The meeting witnessed the presence of key stakeholders, including PMC Dhole Patil Road Ward Officer Indrayani Karache, Horticulture Mistry PMC Tree Department Vilas Atole, PMC Junior Engineer Road Department Megha Lavand, and nearly 100 citizens and activists. The ongoing engagement underscores the importance of community involvement in crucial decisions impacting the environment and localities.
