Activists in Pune Set to Hold Chipko March on February 9th to Oppose Tree Cutting Initiatives for City Construction Projects
Activists in Pune Set to Hold Chipko March on February 9th to Oppose Tree Cutting Initiatives for City Construction Projects
To raise awareness against the tree cutting happening throughout the city for various projects, Jeevitnadi and Pune River Revival are organizing a Chipko March on February 9, 2025.
This isn’t the first instance of environmental groups in Pune staging protests. They have repeatedly accused the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) of harming the environment through the River Rejuvenation Project. The march is set to kick off at 3:30 PM from Kalmadi High School in Baner and will make its way to the Ram-Mula Confluence in Baner. Activists are urging for a sustainable approach to urban development that protects the city’s heritage trees and natural resources.
Recently, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) announced that it will plant 5,015 new trees as compensation for those cut down along Ganeshkhind Road during the widening and flyover construction project. These new trees, which are each 5-6 feet tall, have been planted in six different locations within a 3 km area and have been GPS-tagged, photographed, and recorded to ensure transparency. This effort is part of a larger compensatory plan that includes replanting 175 trees along Ganeshkhind Road and transplanting the trees that were felled.
In October 2023, the Bombay High Court placed a stay on any further tree cutting along Ganeshkhind Road after it was found that the PMC had violated the Maharashtra Tree Act. The PMC had allowed the cutting of 192 trees without adequately addressing public objections, with permissions granted by Commissioner Vikram Kumar on the same day that objections were due. This rushed decision resulted in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Parisar, economist Ameet Singh, and civic activist Hema Chari.
🌳This Banyan Tree, tagged for chopping for the RFD, isn’t just a tree:
— Pune River Revival (@PuneRivers) January 20, 2025
It purifies the air and cools the surroundings.
It’s a sanctuary for birds, bees, and insects.
Its roots stabilize the soil and conserve water.
We’re cutting down more than a tree—we’re cutting down life https://t.co/fb353FVr4B
