Bombay High Court gives stay on illegal tree felling on Ganeshkhind Road

By: Pune Pulse

October 12, 2023

Pune: Pune NGO Parisar, along with activists Ameet Singh and Hema Chari, had filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court to stop cutting 192 trees on Ganeshkhind Road. The stretch of road from the Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) gate until Sancheti chowk is currently being widened from 36 meters to 45 meters.

The PIL has alleged that permission for the tree cutting was given in violation of the provisions of the Maharashtra Tree Act. The Road Department applied for permission to cut 105 trees and transplant 87 on August 21, 2023. The PMC issued a public notice calling for objections until August 18, but PMC Commissioner Vikram Kumar, who is also the PMC Tree Authority, sanctioned the felling of the trees on the 18th itself, without considering any of the objections raised, in clear violation of the Maharashtra Tree Act provisions and earlier High Court judgement regarding the same.

As per the information received, taking strong exception to the high-handed and cavalier attitude of the PMC, the bench hearing the PIL, headed by Chief Justice and Justice Arif Doctor, stayed any further cutting of trees and instructed that the orders be conveyed to the Commissioner immediately. The PMC will now have to re-issue the notice and re-hear the objections.

Economist Ameet Singh, added ”Rampant tree cutting is happening all over the city in complete violation of the law. Pune is already one of the most polluted cities, and climate change is a serious matter that is being utterly ignored. The cutting of thousands of trees will only make matters worse. We are glad that the Court has recognised the issue and given a rap on the PMC’s knuckles. I request Pune’s citizens to join hands in the effort to save our tree cover and download the GPS camera software. Take photos of trees being chopped wherever you see them and tag all of us. We need evidence of PMC’s so-called ‘development’ model to stop their rampant tree felling.”

Hema Chari, also a petitioner, called into question the hurried manner in which the road widening was happening. ”With the Metro, what is the need for the road to be widened to 45 meters, that too without the provision of decent footpaths or cycle tracks? It will only lead to more traffic, emissions, and pollution. Cutting down trees will have a double impact on pollution”.

As per the statement in the petition, according to IRC standards for pedestrians and cycle tracks, a 6.5-metre footpath with a clear 2-meter walking zone and a 2.2-metre cycle track is needed on a 45-meter road. The PMC’s own Comprehensive Bicycle Plan, approved by the General Body in 2017, calls for a cycle track on Ganeshkhind Road.

Ranjit Gadgil, Programme Director of Parisar, said, ”We have asked for the design of the road, which should be as per the mandatory IRC Guidelines and the city’s own Urban Street Design Guidelines, but have been told that only a 2.5-metre footpath will be provided. We have raised these issues in the High Court and hope that PMC will now follow these standards. If they do, hardly any trees will be affected, as they can be accommodated in the design. Otherwise, we will approach the Court again”.

Madhupriya Dhanwate