19 year old city student and her colleague rally against axing of trees at Nanded Phata
Akash Dhanurkar
The rapid environmental changes and unhealthy atmosphere is being an unresolved threat to the human life. Amid the growing pollution, 63 trees are on the verge of being axed by the PMC for road widening, adding more danger to the area which is short of trees and greenery.
The issue was first noticed by the local shopkeepers who informed Wadgaon based 30 year old environment enthusiast, Kushal Sanas. Kushal immediately visited the site on 11th November after local shopkeepers and residents informed him of the notice stuck at the trees with nails (violating the tree act).
Kushal Sanas when took note of situation, realised that the notice was stuck at 3/11/2020 and the PMC gave only 8 days for anyone to report their objection if any to the tree cutting (second violation as per tree act as maximum fifteen days are given in the notice prior cutting for any one to raise objection).
He followed up the notice with the 19 year old young activist from SP College, a second year student of Geography, Tanmayi Shinde, who immediately reviewed the notice and took a follow up with the Sinhagad road ward office on the violation of the tree act under the guidance of her mentor, Sathya Natarajan, who is one of the leading and core members of the Area Sabha Association of Pune and Swach Bharat Plan Action Commitee.
They lectured both, Tanmayi and Kaushal on the development project and its need in the area. They even termed the trees to be of no use even when the majority of trees among 63 trees are banyan and Gulmohar trees except for 5 – 6, which are wild trees.
Tanmayi while talking to Pune Pulse said, “Immediately when I learnt about the notice by PMC, stuck on the trees with nails pierced in the trees, which are full grown and 40 years old each, I drafted an objection letter and raised the objection at Ward office, too. They tried influencing me under the name of development and congestion, but I still objected it because tomorrow if trees are not there, how can we survive? Our future generation will struggle for normal and healthy life. Even if the PMC goes ahead by its decision, will still resist the decision to cut the trees.”
Kaushal while talking to Pulse, said, “I come from a village (Wadgaon), which is named after banyan tree. Earlier, there was wide area that was covered by the trees, but in the name of development, we chopped down the trees. Piercing nail in the tree is an utter violation of the tree act. I request citizens to help us stop the massacre of the trees in this area. This is the question of your future generation.”
After recording the statements of the two activist and volunteers, Pune Pulse reached out to Satya Natrajan to record his take on the notice served. He said, “I request PMC to show me how many trees have been planted after chopping them in the name of development. I am not against the development, but I am against cutting down of trees. We will object the decision under Tree act.”
He further continued, “The current Citizen- to – tree ratio is comparably quite less – 1:1:128. How are we going to live to see their development?”
Talking with Jayshree Katkar, Commissioner of Sinhagad Road Ward Office, said, “The proposal is pending at the desk of Tree Depertment of PMC. The approval hasn’t been given to it yet, as the meeting has to be held first in which the objection will be considered and discussed. The meeting is pending due to the ongoing code of conduct in Pune.”
