Pune: Engineers Made Tree Guardians As PMC Mandates Plantation After Road Widening
Pune: Engineers Made Tree Guardians As PMC Mandates Plantation After Road Widening
Pune | May 17, 2025
With road-widening projects advancing rapidly across Pune, concerns about environmental degradation due to tree removal have been mounting. In response, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued a significant directive through its Road Department.
Chief Engineer (Roads) of Pune Municipal Corporation, Aniruddha Pavaskar, issued a circular on May 15, mandating that engineers overseeing road development projects will now be responsible for planting new trees in place of those removed and ensuring their upkeep. Each sub-engineer and junior engineer will be required to adopt “tree guardianship” for the roads within their jurisdiction.
This decision comes amid growing public outcry from environmentalists and NGOs, who have been raising alarms about the loss of mature trees during infrastructure work. The circular stresses the importance of compensatory plantation and sustained care of new saplings to mitigate environmental impact.
Key Points of the Circular:
- Mandatory tree plantation after trees are cut due to road widening.
- Engineers must ensure minimum care period for newly planted trees.
- Tree guardianship assigned to every sub-engineer and junior engineer for specific road sections.
- A comprehensive report is to be submitted by executive engineers by May 19, 2025.
- Engineers must submit monthly progress reports on plantation and maintenance to the Chief Engineer.
About ‘Mission 32’:
The directive aligns with Mission 32, a special development campaign targeting the expansion, beautification, and upgrading of 32 major roads in Pune. While it enhances infrastructure, the mission has also led to the felling of large, old trees, triggering environmental concerns.
Citizen Role:
Residents are encouraged to monitor implementation. If trees have been removed in your area, inquire which engineer is responsible for guardianship. Citizens must also keep an eye on whether newly planted trees are being properly cared for.
This step signals a shift in accountability and environmental responsibility within municipal operations, aiming to strike a balance between development and sustainability.
