Pune News: Save Mula River Trees: Last Date To Oppose PCMC Plan Is July 30
Pune News: Save Mula River Trees: Last Date To Oppose PCMC Plan Is July 30
Pune | July 30, 2025 — Residents and environmentalists are strongly opposing the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) proposal to cut thousands of trees along a nine-kilometre stretch of the Mula riverbank, from Wakad to Sangavi, as part of its Riverfront Development (RFD) project.
The civic body issued a public notice on July 24 and has set a deadline of July 30 for submitting objections. The plan has sparked widespread concern among local communities and ecological groups who argue that the move threatens the fragile river ecosystem and disregards the area’s biodiversity.
The proposed tree cutting would affect mature, native trees that play a vital role in maintaining the riparian habitat. These trees support a diverse range of wildlife including peacocks, hornbills, painted storks, and turtles. Environmentalists warn that their removal would result in irreversible habitat destruction.
Transplantation has been offered as a mitigation measure, but experts and residents point out that it is rarely successful, especially considering PCMC’s track record. Critics argue that mature trees, once uprooted, rarely survive and cannot replicate the ecological functions of a thriving riparian forest.
The riverbank is regarded as one of the last remaining old-growth ecosystems in the region. Activists believe that the tree-cutting plan prioritizes beautification over environmental preservation, which they view as a short-sighted approach to urban development.
Residents across the city are being urged to submit their objections by email before the July 30 deadline and attend the public hearing scheduled for August 4 at 11 AM, at the PCMC Garden Department, Yashwantrao Chavan Gulab Pushpa Udyaan in Bhosari, Pune. Objections can be submitted by anyone, regardless of whether they live within the PCMC limits.
Environmental groups and concerned citizens emphasize that protecting these trees is not just about greenery, but about safeguarding Pune’s ecological heritage for future generations.
