Pune Residents Rally Against Felling of 81 Trees in Baner: Demand Transparency from PMC

On 20^th February (Tuesday), several Pune citizens held a site visit with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) regarding 81 trees that are planned to be felled on Baner Road.

Chaitanya Ket, an active Pune citizen, shared with Pune Pulse “Its illogical that the trees which were planted by PMC Road Department in 2017 are required to be felled/re-planted just because of alternation of road design. In short, the existing cycle track, which is currently beside the footpath, is now being taken beside the road, marking the cycle track with color.

This, according to the PMC Road Department, can increase road width and carrying capacity, the same will be utilized for parking vehicles and according to PMC Road Department, the trees are now coming in their proposed parking place, so, the total trees will be felled are 81 + 100 = 181 trees.”

Chaitanya Ket further shared “Citizens’ observations are as follows:

•          There is ample scope for designing the alternative plan that can save the trees.
•          No provision is left for new tree plantation in ongoing work of road and footpath.
•          No new tree plantation is considered in the planning stage on both sides of the road.
•          As 4 metro stations are planned on this road, is a 2-meter footpath sufficient to carry loads of pedestrians? What about their safety?
•          If Metro is coming, why do we need additional parking spaces and big roads?
•          IRC guidelines are not followed here.
•          Baner area comes under Smart City project where sustainability, increasing green cover, pedestrian walkways are on priority but on ground the exact opposite situation can be seen.
•          No bus stop shades are planned on the same road. People are standing on the road in the scorching Sun waiting for the bus.”
• Chaitanya Ket further shares “Citizens’ demands seeking transparency are:
•          Though the docket talks about one side of the road only, citizens are seeking for the both side plan from University Chowk to Sadanand hotel.
•          Citizens’ meeting with the road department was needed urgently.”

Meghna Bhandari, an active Pune citizen, said “The PMC has planned to fell 81 trees for roadside parking as, according to the PMC, those trees are obstructing the parking space construction. However, cutting trees for parking space is against the Tree Act. Secondly, these trees were planted on Baner Road ever since it was constructed in 2017. Hence, what has happened in almost 7 years that the PMC has to cut them? Why is there no long-term planning? Also, when 4 to 5 metro stations are planned to be constructed here, how will a 2-meter width footpath be sufficient for pedestrians? If it is being planned that people should use public transport more often, then why is the road size planned to increase? As per DP, the entire road is of 30 m width. But this DP was created around 10 to 15 years ago. Why wasn’t this road constructed 15 ft back then? Now, they say that we are going ahead as per DP & we need to cut trees for that. For planting new trees, there is no space left by the PMC either on road or footpath. As per Tree Act, there should be a tree planted after every 3 m at the roadside. The PMC doesn’t have any data about how many trees will be replanted, where they will be replanted etc. We have expressed strong objection to this tree felling & have demanded to meet the senior officials/decision makers about this.”

Anil Sabale, Tree Officer, PMC Aundh-Baner Ward Office, said “The citizens wanted to check the entire planning of footpath, road length, no of trees which could be saved etc. It is seen that some trees could be saved. However, an important point was seen & discussed that although at some places footpath is there or is being constructed, there is no space for tree planting. The entire site from Wadeshwar on Baner Road was inspected where all points of the citizens have been noted. So, now, a meeting of citizens will be set up with the Chief Engineer of the PMC Road Department & possible solutions & outcomes will be discussed.”

Shreyas Vange