Is the destruction of Pune’s green ecosystem justified by the proposed benefits of the River Front Development project being undertaken by PMC? Pune’s Mula-Mutha River has been experiencing a gradual decline in water quality in the past decade due to contamination in the face of increased urbanisation along the riverside, and the release of untreated sewage from nallas and piped outfalls. To tackle this, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), in 2016, initiated the River Front Development Project (RFD), now rebranded as the River Rejuvenation Project. The project proposed to: However, in its execution, the uprooting of approximately 7,500 trees along the Sangamwadi Bridge to Bund Garden and Bund Garden to Mundwa stretch was stipulated. Dubious Plan? The project gained environmental clearance after its Detailed Project Report (DPR) explicitly stated that the felling of trees was not applicable for the same in any capacity, proclaiming the “protection and enrichment of Pune’s green heritage”. However, during the preliminary screening, the PMC disclosed its plan to chop down 7,539 trees, alongside the 11,000 already-commissioned trees to be felled in the past six months. “The plan is to cut down only urban trees such as Subabul and Vilayati Tamarind with heights of about four to five feet and replace them with 65,000 plus native trees such as Banyan, Muchkund, and Arjuna,” explained Guruswami Tumale, assistant superintendent, garden department, PMC. As justification for the removal, PMC’s records list the species as “invasive”, implying probable harm to the area, a claim which environmentalists denounce. Shlok Sarolkar, coordinator of Fridays for Future, Pune, a youth-led climate organisation, stands in vehement opposition to the move. “This proposal is illogical and unnatural. The uprooting of trees which have existed and contributed to our heritage for hundreds of years should only be seen as a move for namesake development,” he adds. Concerned Citizens’ Response. Showing solidarity against the proposed plan, the Pune River Revival Group organised a Chipko Andolan on 29 April 2023. The protest began with a short address by Shailaja Deshpande, founder of Jeevit Nadi, and later a march was held from Sambhaji Park to SM Joshi Bridge. Participants displayed ‘Save Mula-Mutha’ banners and hugged the trees. Several local environmental organisations opposing the eco-destructive impacts of the RFD, have returned their Paryavaran Doot awards, for notable contributions to the environment, back to the PMC. An application was also filed before the National Green Tribunal by Pune citizen Sarang Yadwadkar on 27 March, seeking a review of the PMC’s DPR. Following this, a stay order was imposed on the felling of trees for the project until 31 July. Despite this, Yadwadkar alleges that the order was flouted, and the removal of trees persisted. However, officials denied the claim, attributing the absence of trees in certain sections of the riverside to miscellaneous causes. “Tree fragments are left behind when vehicles accidentally knock them over. The PMC doesn’t have any involvement in the same,” Tumale stated. Final Verdict The case was disposed of on 3 August, with the PMC being directed to refrain from felling trees until the environmental clearance has been amended and due permission from the Maharashtra State Tree Authority is received. However, in the wake of more tree-cutting approvals being granted for similar projects in Pune, citizens plan to host awareness events frequently, with the most recent one being the Tree Walk scheduled at Express Botanical Garden on 19 August.
28 Aug 2023
Ishika Gupta
