Pune‬: Authorities want to axe 96 trees, some as old as 100 years

On World Environment Day as prominent celebrities as well as PM Narendra Modi plant saplings the citizens of Pune were shocked to know that 96 large trees will soon be cut.

96 old trees to be cut

"We had put up notices on the trees to be cut on May 21st calling for objections from citizens, last day of sending objections was June 4. By June 1 we had only one complaint, it was after a few media reports which came out on the same that we got 24 more objections in 2 days. We have instructions from the commissioner to organize a public meeting to discuss alternatives and find solutions to this problem" said Madhav Dhere, Tree Officer, Garden Department, Pune.

The list of trees to be cut down consist of a few trees which age over 100 years. "We have given the permission as the road department will be planting new saplings and scientifically replanting a few trees to another location" added Dhere. Over 8 banyans, 11 neem and 14 tamarind trees are a part of the list which provide shade to pedestrians. 

In a span of two days, Pune Municipal Corporation received over 25 objections on the cutting of 96 trees on Ganeshkhind road

Environmental activists sent letters and emails to the corporation asking them to scrap the decision of road widening and make the city's transportation system environmental friendly. It was due to this agitation of citizens against the tree cutting that comissioner Kunal Kumar has now instructed the garden department to call for a public meeting where representatives of Garden Department, Road Department and citizens groups would be present.

Also Read: Couple plants 800 trees in Vetal Tekdi area

Road widening may not be the need of the hour

Discontent with the decision of the Sujit Patwardhan Garden Department, Head of Parisar, a city based NGO said, "The trees are cut for road widening which is not needed. The problem of traffic will increase if you continue making more lanes for cars. It is high time PMC should follow sustainaibility transportation policies and work on improving the public transport, footpaths and cycle tracks instead. The transportation vision of the city should be public centric and not automobile centric, one must understand that widening of roads is not the solution to solving traffic problems."

The environmentalist added that the public meeting would help citizens opine their views on the traffic control by road widening projects which require cutting of trees.

Also Read: Pune losing its green cover to slums: Environment Status Report (ESR)

A peaceful protest was also organized by Vinod Jain outside SPPU main gate on World Environment Day, June 5th to oppose the cutting of the trees.

Agreeing with Patwardhan, Maj. Gen. S.C.N. Jatar of Nagrik Chetana Manch said, "The one way flyover is the reason for the traffic problem on the Ganeshkhind road. During the flyover construction we held protests to either call off the project or make it two way. However nobody listened. Very few use the bridge which in turn causes traffic at its convergence point. Our country has not yet understood the importance of trees and their value." Major General Jatar has sent a complaint letter to PMC commissioner via Nagrik Chetana Manch opposing the cutting of trees.

Alternate routes and methods

According to environmentalists a single banyan tree provides four times oxygen than any other tree, the PMC does not plant banyan saplings when they cut one and instead use weaker plants. "There is no comparison of a new sapling to the 100 - 200 year old tree you cut. Also, the scientifically relocated trees have a shorter life span, again making it a bad option. In China, 10 storey buildings are broken down to broaden roads, not trees. In the public meeting we will see to it that trees are not lost while the road widening is done, alternate routes or methods would be suggested. " added Colonel (Retired) Suresh Patil of Green Thumbs, an NGO which works in de-silting of Khadakwasla dam.