Latest news with #UrbanAreas)ProtectionandPreservationofTreesAct
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Activists slam PCMC over proposed tree felling, 1,200 objections filed
Over 100 citizens and environmental activists, present for the hearing of the proposed tree felling of 1,009 trees in Wakad and Sangvi for the Riverfront Development Project (RFD) on Monday, claimed the proposed docket prepared by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) was illegal and legally flawed. According to PCMC officials, the revised docket proposes felling of 1,009 trees, transplanting 2,252. (HT) The PCMC last month had issued a public notice in newspapers regarding the proposed tree felling and replantation of trees that will be affected during the RFD project. The civic body received over 1,200 suggestions and objections to the project. During the hearing, held at the civic garden in Bhosari, green activists submitted a fresh letter demanding cancellation of the existing docket, which they claimed violates the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975. According to PCMC officials, the revised docket proposes felling of 1,009 trees, transplanting 2,252, and retaining 3,585 trees, including heritage and ecologically significant trees. Besides, 67 trees have already fallen naturally due to age or calamities. Activists argued that the very basis of the current hearing is flawed as Section 5(a) of the Tree Act mandates that only the Tree Authority or designated Tree Officer can carry out official tree surveys. The documents presented lack basic legal compliance as they do not include geo-tagged photographs, survey dates, or location coordinates, they said. Green activist, Prashant Raul, pointed out that many trees currently standing at the site were missing from the survey report. 'A previous tree census from December 2021 by PCMC, which provides a more accurate count, was ignored. An RTI has also been filed demanding that the older data be used to assess the objections. The report fails to follow the Act's definition of a tree, omitting climbers, grasses, and shrubs. Additionally, the Expert Committee's report, which should clarify why certain trees are being felled or transplanted, was not made available,' he said. Another major concern, according to activists, is that the hearing focused only on the Wakad to Sangvi stretch, while the RFD covers up to Dapodi. Activists questioned why permissions and objections are being considered phase-wise when project approvals were taken for the full stretch. Also, native species such as Karanj, Neem, Banyan, Peepal and Babool were labelled as 'invasive' in the report, drawing widespread criticism. Raju Savle, civic activist, also accused PCMC of already cutting down trees without necessary permissions. Evidence, including photos from 2023, 2024 and this year was submitted, showing large-scale felling to make way for contractor's vehicles and machinery. Mahesh Gargote, head of the garden department, PCMC, said, 'The Tree department has received around 1,200 objections from the public. These objections will be compiled and forwarded to the Environment department and later presented before the Tree Authority. The project work has begun in some sections. All objections would be considered and possible corrective actions would be taken following the Tree Act guidelines.'
Time of India
12-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
HC junks plea against 9km riverfront development stretch after PMC word on maintaining compensatory plantations
Pune: The Bombay high court on Friday disposed of a PIL against felling and replantation of trees along a 9km Mula-Mutha riverfront development (RFD) stretch, from Sangamwadi bridge to Mundhwa bridge, after the PMC gave an undertaking to maintain the replanted trees properly. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) submitted that it had planted 7,469 trees till July 11 against phase-wise permissions granted between Oct 14, 2024, and Feb 24, 2025, by the PMC Tree Authority to cut 1,302 trees and replant 1,843 trees. The civic body also said it would ensure that these trees were maintained properly. The bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V Marne said on July 11, "Needless to state that in case any further proposal is made to the Tree Authority for cutting of trees for the purposes of the project in question, petitioners shall be at liberty to raise an objection, if so advised." You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Lawyer Abhijit Kulkarni, who represented the PMC, told TOI, "We brought to the court's notice that we have followed all the legal procedures. The PIL was filed in March this year as an afterthought against the permissions granted much earlier, only to stall the ambitious RFD project. It has an environmental clearance from the central govt's environment ministry." "As early as in April this year, we filed an affidavit-in-reply, bringing to the HC's notice that 60% of the project work had been completed as per permissions granted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Se você sofre com dores no joelho. Leia isso antes que seja deletado Vida Sem Dores Hence, the PIL was an indirect way of blocking the project. This was the fourth attempt to stall the project in the name of environmental concerns," he said. Activist Shalvi Pawar and others had filed the PIL assailing the validity of Resolution No. 1/14/ permission passed by the chairman of the Pune Municipal Corporation's Tree Authority on Oct 14, 2024, on the ground that the same was in violation of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975. The petitioners pleaded directions to quash and set aside the approvals given on Dec 6, 2024, Dec 10, 2024 and Dec 11, 2024, by the assistant municipal commissioner, PMC, and to restrain the chairman, Tree Authority, from felling and replantation of trees for the RFD project. The PMC stated in its affidavit on April 27, 2025, "The permission to cut trees for River Rejuvenation Project has been considered by the PMC in phase wise manner. As of date, six permissions have been granted by the Tree Authority to cut a total of 1,302 trees and transplant 1,843 trees along around 9km length of the Mula-Mutha. Out of the said permissions, cutting of 997 trees and transplantation of 859 have been completed, and further work is in progress. Simultaneously, along with the cutting and/or transplantation of trees, the execution of the River Rejuvenation Project is also going on at the site." The PMC lawyer submitted on July 11 that the remaining trees had also been cut /transplanted after April 27, 2025, and the phase concerned of project had been executed.
Hindustan Times
09-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
PMC urges housing societies to plant trees while residents allege delays in permissions to prune overgrown trees
While the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is urging housing societies to plant trees uprooted due to road widening and development works, residents allege delays in permissions to prune overgrown/dangerous trees/tree branches that pose serious risk during the monsoon. There is growing concern among housing societies in Kothrud, Aundh, Baner, Hadapsar and Kondhwa over probable treefall incidents that could damage property and even endanger lives. While the garden department of the PMC insists that trimming permissions are mandatory under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, residents allege that the process is time-consuming and lacks transparency even in cases flagged as emergencies. Anil Aavchite, member of Bhagvati Cooperative Housing Society in Lohegaon, said, 'This is contradictory. On the one hand, the PMC wants citizens to plant more trees while on the other, it is delaying permissions for trimming branches that are clearly hazardous. We are caught in a loop of red tape even as the risk increases every day.' Residents also allege that the PMC's pre-monsoon inspection of trees is mostly limited to public roads while housing society premises are ignored unless there is repeated follow-up by citizens. Dr Sachin Punekar, botanist and former member of the PMC tree authority committee, stressed the need for balance. 'Both preservation and preventive pruning are essential for urban ecology and safety. The PMC should decentralise the process and allow societies to prune branches that are clearly dangerous after submitting photographic proof.' Spike in treefall incidents this monsoon Meanwhile, data from the PMC fire department shows that 165 treefall incidents were recorded between January and April 2025. In the first 26 days of May alone, that number surged to 195—indicating a sharp rise in treefall incidents during the monsoon. Nilesh Mahajan, senior fire officer of the PMC fire department, said, 'While we don't keep separate data for societies, experience shows that around 10% of treefall incidents occur within housing society premises due to lack of maintenance.' Efforts underway, but challenges remain Ganesh Sonune, head of the PMC disaster management cell, said, 'Instructions have been issued to the garden department officials and ward offices to fast-track pruning permissions. Societies should apply online and mark requests as emergencies if the trees in question pose a safety threat.' According to various residents' welfare associations however, the online process is time-consuming and unreliable. 'Even when we get approval, the contractors demand hefty fees,' said a Baner-based housing society manager. Sushas Patwardhan, president of the Pune District Cooperative Housing Federation, echoed similar sentiments saying, 'The PMC should establish a simple, single-window system for pruning requests with a fixed timeframe. Also, expert personnel should be provided at reasonable rates. Societies cannot keep waiting while unsafe trees pose daily risks. The PMC gives a three-month deadline to trim risky branches but most societies struggle due to lack of support and high contractor costs.' Koregaon Park plantation drive sees good response On their part, PMC officials claim that citizens are responding positively to plantation appeals in some areas. Sachin Bagade, deputy engineer, PMC road department, said, 'During the ongoing road widening on a two-kilometre stretch in Koregaon Park, around 200 trees were identified for relocation or removal. About 25 societies in the area have shown readiness to replant the trees in their premises. We will distribute saplings to them next week.'
Time of India
02-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
PMC to start ambulance service to protect & maintain trees on lines of initiative in Chennai
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.
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
HC Stays Felling of 1,374 Trees in City Over Viability of Compensatory Plantation
Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Tuesday imposed an interim stay on the proposed felling of 1,374 trees in the city's various areas, expressing strong reservations about compensatory plantation in forested zones such as Gorewada in lieu of lost urban greenery. These areas include the Mankapur sports complex, the collectorate, and the divisional commissioner's complex, among others. The division bench, comprising justices Nitin Sambre and Vrushali Joshi, while hearing a PIL filed by Preeti Patel and three others, observed that 'not a single tree should be cut' until further orders. The PIL challenges the legality of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's tree-cutting proposal, alleging it violates mandatory provisions of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975. The petitioners, represented by counsel Mrinall Chakravorty, argued that the civic body submitted the tree-felling proposal without conducting a proper tree census since 2011, without formulating a concrete compensatory plantation plan, and in the absence of a detailed development master plan. NMC counsel Jemini Kassat submitted that trees were being removed to facilitate the construction of the divisional commissioner's office and that afforestation would be carried out in the Gorewada forest area. The court, however, rejected the approach, stating that urban tree loss cannot be offset by planting in distant forest tracts. "Cutting trees in the city and planting them in the jungle will destroy the environmental balance of the city," the bench observed, before adjourning the hearing till next week. The judges also raised concerns about the efficacy of compensatory plantations, questioning whether any monitoring mechanism exists to determine the survival rate of planted saplings. "Who is keeping track of how many planted trees are actually surviving?" the bench asked verbally.
