Pune: Residents Urge PMC To Restore Open Soil Around Trees To Prevent Monsoon Tree Falls
Pune: Residents Urge PMC To Restore Open Soil Around Trees To Prevent Monsoon Tree Falls
Pune, July 13, 2026: In the wake of several tree fall incidents during the ongoing monsoon, the Sahakarnagar Citizens’ Forum has urged the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to adopt a scientific tree maintenance method by removing concrete paving around tree trunks to improve their stability and health.
In a letter addressed to the Head of PMC’s Garden Department, the forum claimed that many trees across Pune have become vulnerable because the soil around their trunks has been covered with concrete blocks and paving, restricting rainwater from reaching their roots.
The forum referred to recent incidents at locations including Sinhagad Road, Navnath Maruti Mandir, and Dandekar Bridge, where trees reportedly collapsed. It also mentioned an incident in which a flower vendor lost her life after a tree fell.
According to the citizens’ group, creating open soil around the base of trees would allow better water percolation, strengthen the root system and reduce the likelihood of trees toppling during heavy rainfall.
As part of its recommendation, the forum has proposed leaving an exposed soil area measuring 4 ft x 4 ft or 6 ft x 6 ft around every tree, with a depth of 4 to 5 inches, instead of covering the space with paving blocks or concrete.
The forum also claimed that this method has already been implemented around nearly 300 trees in Sahakarnagar Ward No. 2, where PMC’s Road Department reportedly removed paving blocks and cleaned the area surrounding the tree trunks.
The citizens’ body has appealed to the Garden Department to replicate the model across Pune, arguing that it would not only improve tree health but also help minimise the risk of tree falls during the monsoon, thereby enhancing public safety.
