Pune: Timely Citizen Intervention Helps Save 368 Trees from Felling On Katra – Kondhwa Road
Pune: Timely Citizen Intervention Helps Save 368 Trees from Felling On Katra - Kondhwa Road
Pune, 18 June, 2026: Members of the Chalo PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation) community and residents stopped tree-felling work near the Indian Oil petrol pump on Katraj-Kondhwa Road after questioning the permissions shown by contractors at the site.
According to the activists, a few trees had already been cut before volunteers reached the location. Residents then asked the workers and contractors to provide copies of the permissions issued for the tree-cutting work and carefully examined the documents.
The citizens said they found discrepancies in the documents and questioned whether permissions issued in earlier years could be used for the ongoing work. They also checked whether the permissions matched the exact location where the trees were being cut. The activists claim that one of the documents shown to them granted permission for tree-cutting on the Saswad-Katraj road. When they pointed out that the location did not match the site where the work was taking place, they were shown another document. According to the group, the second permission was valid only up to the Shatrunjay Society. However, the contractors continued to claim that they had permission to cut trees at the location
After reviewing the documents, the activists contacted PMC (Pune Municipal Corporation) officials and called the police helpline (112). Police personnel visited the site and questioned those involved in the tree-cutting work. The matter was later taken to Bharati Vidyapeeth Police Station, where the citizens informed officials about the issue.
Sana Shaikh, a member of Chalo PMC, said residents must stay alert whenever tree-cutting activities take place in their neighbourhoods.
“People should be aware of such tree cutting happening in their area. By the time I reached the site, a few trees had already been cut. A member of the Chalo PMC group called me. We checked the documents and dates thoroughly,” she said.
Shaikh said the group had planned to visit the Tree Officer’s office and file an FIR against the contractor.
“We were supposed to go to the Tree Officer’s office on Monday to report the matter and file an FIR against the contractor. However, the Horticulture Mistry avoided the meeting, saying they had an event to attend. On that day, around 16 trees had officially been approved for transplantation,” she added.
Ameet Singh, an economist and a member of the group, said the matter had been brought to the attention of forest and civic authorities.
“We have sent a letter to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and Range Forest Officer (RFO). The PMC should be aware of these actions and should remain vigilant, as this area falls under the PMC. On June 12, we stopped the tree-cutting work and met the officials. We had asked them to investigate the matter,” Singh said.
Members of the group said they approached the concerned officials and requested an investigation into the matter. However, they claimed that they did not receive a timely response.
The activists said their intervention helped stop the tree-felling work and protected around 368 trees in the area. They have now sought a detailed review of the permissions and have requested the authorities to investigate the matter.
