PCMC to plant 1.5 lakh trees
The campaign, led by the civic garden and tree conservation department, aims to reduce pollution, increase tree cover, and create a healthier environment for citizens.
According to officials, the initiative was officially launched on June 25, with the planting of an Ajan tree by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Santpeeth site.
As of July 31, over 19,500 trees have been planted throughout the city.
The plantation drive is not limited to roads—it also includes Durga Devi Garden, Biodiversity Park, Joggers Park in Chinchwad, Green Yatri Parks on Spine Road and along nullahs, and military areas like CME, Dighi, Pimple Nilakh, and Dehu Road camps.
Shekhar Singh, commissioner, PCMC, said, 'Planting trees every 10 metres along our roads will go a long way in making Pimpri Chinchwad greener and more vibrant. This is a collective effort, and I urge all citizens to participate and take ownership of our shared environment.'
Pradip Jambhale Patil, additional municipal commissioner, PCMC, said, 'The initiative will lead to a significant increase in green cover and help mitigate urban heat and pollution.'
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Indian Express
3 hours ago
- Indian Express
Tension after crowd forcefully opens Dadar Kabutarkhana to feed pigeons
Over a hundred members of the Jain community took to the streets Wednesday morning, forcefully opened the Dadar Kabutarkhana and offered grains to pigeons at a time when the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC)'s closure of such feeding spots has ruffled feathers across quarters in the city. Anticipating the agitation and protest, BMC Tuesday sought police assistance in taking action against those who would be found feeding pigeons at public spaces. The protest comes a day after Maharashtra's Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed BMC to permit the feeding of pigeons in a controlled manner. Over the weekend, BMC shut the 92-year-old feeding spot in Dadar and lodged FIRs, much to the chagrin of animal rights activists and members of the Jain community for whom feeding pigeons holds religious significance. Tensions flared in Dadar where hundreds of Jain community members flocked to the Kabutarkhana. Some of them climbed atop the bamboo structure, and pulled down the tarpaulin sheets over the site, which the BMC had installed over the weekend. Following the partial removal of the cover, the crowd, led by women, climbed inside the feeding ground and offered grains to the pigeons even as the police attempted to control the protesters. Tucked in the bustling neighbourhood near Dadar railway station, Dadar Kabutarkhana — established in 1933 — is maintained by the Dadar Kabutarkhana Trust. According to members of the trust, over 980 pigeons had died in the vicinity over the past 3 days. 'It was to offer prayers, that a peace gathering had initially been planned on Wednesday. However, after our meeting with the Chief Minister where he spoke in favour of us, we had called off the gathering. Even as we had conveyed a message of the cancellation throughout the night, some members perhaps did not receive the message and gathered at the site on Wednesday morning,' said Sandeep Doshi from the Dadar Kabutarkhana Trust. He maintained that the extreme reactions were triggered by members outside of the Jain community, who had also gathered on Wednesday. 'Some other members from other communities also gathered and the extreme action was taken by them. While some things happened in the heat of the moment, we did not break anything, did not fight with the police nor the administration,' added Doshi. Even as the Mumbai Police had on Wednesday morning said that it was in the process of filing an FIR, officials said that no FIR was filed until Wednesday. 'We can file an FIR only on the basis of complaints filed by BMC, as the High Court had directed the BMC to take action on the matter,' an official from Mumbai Police told The Indian Express. Meanwhile, the BMC had not filed any complaints until Wednesday evening. Dadar Kabutarkhana is among the 44 feeding spots the civic body has initiated action against for pigeon feeding. Between July 13 and August 3, at least 141 people have been fined for feeding pigeons with the civic body collecting over Rs. 68,700 in penalties. Mumbai is home to at least 51 such Kabutarkhanas with the Maharashtra Government on July 3 calling for the closure of these feeding sites owing to concerns of public health hazards. However, BMC's stance on the closure of Kabutar Khanas gained further momentum after the Bombay High Court order issued on July 30, directing the civic body to lodge FIRs against those who 'illegally' and in a 'defiant' manner feed pigeons at Dadar West, among other feeding areas in Mumbai, despite the policy prohibiting the feeding. Amid the civic body shutting pigeon feeding across the city, members of the Jain community Monday staged a 'Shantidoot Yatra' from Colaba to the Gateway of India, appealing for the reversal of the decision. Meanwhile, as the protest subdued by Wednesday afternoon, the area continued to wear a tense look with the Mumbai police deploying its personnel while also later pressing in barricades. With the tarpaulin sheets and plastic cover partially removed, several pigeons returned into the central feeding spot while many continued to flutter around the grade-II heritage structure. As members of the Dadar Kabutarkhana trust maintained that the forceful opening was triggered by members outside of the community, the incident triggered reactions across the political spectrum. In the aftermath of the incident, Maharashtra cabinet minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha backed the Dadar Kabutarkhana Trust. 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'There has been news today that some animal lovers and particularly members of the Jain community have done destruction at the Dadar Kabutarkhana. This is not true. As per the decision taken on Tuesday, people had only come there to feed birds by opening the tarpaulin,' Sandeep Bhandari, president of BJP's Jain cell said on Wednesday. Earlier on Tuesday, CM Fadnavis had directed BMC to facilitate feeding of pigeons in public spaces in a controlled manner to ensure that the birds do not starve. Even as the civic body maintained that the sites would remain closed until the Bombay High Court hearing on August 7, officials said BMC was exploring the options of feeding for staggered durations, following Fadnavis's directives.
Economic Times
12 hours ago
- Economic Times
Vantara proposes a dedicated rehab centre for elephant Madhuri (Mahadevi) in Kolhapur, supports legal move for her return
Synopsis Vantara proposes a specialized elephant rehabilitation center in Kolhapur for Madhuri, in collaboration with the Jain Math and the Maharashtra Forest Department, following appeals from the Jain community. This initiative includes advanced medical facilities and natural enclosures tailored for Madhuri's well-being. Vantara supports the petition for Madhuri's return, emphasizing its compliance with court orders and aiming to address community concerns. ET Special Vantara has put forth a proposal to establish a satellite rehabilitation centre for the elephant Madhuri in Kolhapur's Nandani region. The proposed initiative will be developed in collaboration with the Jain Math and the Maharashtra Forest Department. If sanctioned, the new facility will feature state-of-the-art medical infrastructure, open and naturalistic enclosures, and therapy-focused amenities designed specifically for Madhuri's health and move follows growing appeals from the Jain community, who hold the elephant, Madhuri in deep spiritual regard. Recognising the sentiment, Vantara has also pledged its support for any petition jointly filed by the Jain Math and the Maharashtra Government before the Supreme Court seeking Madhuri's return to Kolhapur.' We recognise and respect the deep emotional and cultural significance Madhuri holds for the community ,' the organisation said in an official statement, adding that their involvement was solely to comply with court orders and not to disrupt religious offer has received acknowledgement from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who shared the update on X. State Government Stands Firm With Devotees!Chaired a meeting regarding the issue of the Mahadevi elephant from Nandani Math, Taluka Shirol, District Kolhapur, in Mumbai today. For 34 years, Madhuri, also known as Mahadevi has been a part of Nandani Math's tradition and the… — Devendra Fadnavis (@Dev_Fadnavis) August 5, 2025 ' Good news is that they are happy to join Maharashtra Government's petition before the Hon'ble Supreme Court for the smooth passage of the elephant 'Madhuri' back to the Math ,' he wrote. Fadnavis also noted Vantara's readiness to build the specialised centre in Kolhapur if the Supreme Court grants Madhuri's return. Vantara has reiterated that the decision to relocate Madhuri was made by the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court, and that its role was limited to housing and caring for the elephant at its Gujarat-based rehabilitation facility as directed by the courts. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vantara (@vantara) In a detailed statement, the organisation expressed regret that its involvement, though legally mandated, had caused concern within the Jain community. It further clarified that the proposed Kolhapur facility is not a bid for recognition but a response aligned with any future court approval be granted, the planned centre would include advanced features like hydrotherapy ponds, laser therapy units, chain-free open enclosures, and 24/7 veterinary services tailored to Madhuri's specific needs. ' Let us move forward not in opposition but in unity, with love for Madhuri at the heart of it all ,' the statement concludes.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Time of India
Vantara offers to build rehab centre for elephant Madhuri in Kolhapur, backs return petition in court
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