Pune: NGT Directs PMC to Submit Affidavit on Tree Census and Compensatory Plantation in Four Weeks
Pune: NGT Directs PMC to Submit Affidavit on Tree Census and Compensatory Plantation in Four Weeks
Pune: The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Pune bench has directed the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to file an affidavit within four weeks, detailing the total number of trees recorded in its 2025 Tree Census and the compensatory plantations carried out for trees cut under official permissions.
The order came during a hearing on a petition filed by tree activist Krunal Gharre, who challenged the authenticity of PMC’s census data. Gharre argued that the civic body’s report fails to provide clarity on compensatory plantations, which are mandatory when trees are felled for development projects. According to him, this omission means the census does not reflect the true state of the city’s green cover.
PMC had earlier informed the tribunal that its 2025 census recorded 57,81,578 trees within city limits. Taking note of this submission, the bench asked the corporation to file a detailed affidavit substantiating the figures.
Gharre further claimed that 13 tree species have already gone extinct within PMC limits, citing data from the civic body’s own Environment Status Report (ESR). “I have urged NGT to order an immediate inquiry into the extinction of these species, investigate the inconsistencies in PMC’s reports, and enforce stricter accountability, including penalties, if negligence is proven,” Gharre said.
He also requested that all future permissions for tree cutting must clearly mention the locations of compensatory plantations, as required under law.
Officials from PMC stated that the ESR is published annually and includes updates on air and water quality along with other environmental parameters. The case highlights growing concerns about Pune’s shrinking biodiversity and the need for greater transparency in urban environmental governance.
