PMC to start ambulance service to protect & maintain trees on lines of initiative in Chennai

Time of India

2 days ago

Pune: At a time when it is facing criticism over rampant tree cutting across the city, the civic body has decided to go the Chennai way by introducing a 'tree ambulance' service to protect and maintain trees.
The service will be started on June 5,
World Environment Day
.
An ambulance equipped with tools and expertise to diagnose and treat tree diseases, injuries, and environmental damage will provide maintenance care for trees. It will also carry out tree surgery, pest control, and even tree planting.
Environmentalists and tree lovers have welcomed the initiative although they are not fully convinced about its effectiveness. They have argued that Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has not been curbing tree cutting, ensuring proper transplanting of trees, and promoting native species.
TOI, in its issue dated May 26, highlighted a study showing how Pune saw a 34% decline in its carbon sequestration capacity — the natural ability of life and ecosystems to store carbon — due to rapid urbanisation over the last decade. Between 2013 and 2022, Pune's built-up areas expanded by 12%, leading to a substantial loss of green cover. This urban growth reduced the city's carbon absorption ability and weakened its flood mitigation potential by 13%.
PMC authorities insisted that the initiative will bear results. Tree ambulances will be equipped with a hydraulic chainsaw, electric chainsaw, spray machine, battery bar cutter, bolt cutter, woodcutter apron, welding cable, and other equipment.
"The damages caused to the trees are due to unauthorised advertisements placed on trees. Many traders or advertisers use the trunk of trees for advertising. The banners and posters are placed using nails.
It injures the trees and causes severe damage," said Madhav Patil of Angholichi Goli organisation, which works on maintenance of trees. A M Dixit of Kothrud said that the administration should judiciously provide permission for cutting trees.
"The permission to cut trees are given rampantly. This practice should be stopped. The civic body should carry out a proper ground survey before giving a green signal to chop trees," he said.
Ashok Ghorpade, head of PMC's garden department, said that the administration started this initiative for conservation of the green cover. "The vehicle will go to different places for maintenance of trees. Citizens can reach out to PMC for availing the service. The move also aims at creating awareness about illegal advertisements on trees by damaging them," he said.
According to PMC officials, people can reach out to the civic administration for sharing the locations of injured trees.
They can also work as volunteers for promoting tree ambulance and its services.
The Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975, states that damages to trees are punishable. This act regulates felling, injury, and preservation of trees in urban areas across Maharashtra. It has made mandatory to take permission from the Tree Authority before felling or destroying any tree.
Tree ambulance in Chennai
A group of environmentalists initiated the tree ambulance service in Chennai around six years ago. Some of the services offered by them include first aid treatment, uprooted tree planting, seed bank, seed ball distribution, plant distribution, aiding tree plantation, shifting trees, surveying trees, and removing dead trees. The ambulance is accompanied by plant experts and helpers with gardening tools, water, manure, and pesticides.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), have launched fleet tree ambulances.