Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has issued a public notice dated July 24, proposing the cutting of thousands of trees along a nine-kilometre stretch from Wakad to Sangavi as part of the River Front Development (RFD) project.
The civic body has given a deadline of July 30 to voice objections. However, resident activists and environmentalists are raising a lot of questions about this decision and are urging people to come forward and submit their objections.
'We are not against development, but...'
Angad Patwardhan, an active resident, said, "This section of the Mula Riverbank is an ecological hotspot, home to mature, native trees that form an integral part of the riparian ecosystem. These old-growth trees provide critical habitat for a variety of wildlife, including peacocks, hornbills, painted storks, turtles, and others. The tree removal would result in irreversible habitat destruction and severely disrupt the river's delicate ecosystem."
"We are told that transplantation is a mitigation strategy, but experts and citizens know that it destroys the habitat of birds and animals. Also, transplantation has very low survival rates, particularly given PCMC’s past record," added Patwardhan.
Prajakta Mahajan, a volunteer at Pune River Revival, said, "We are not against development, but cutting thousands of mature trees along a riverbank which is an ecological hotspot cannot be the answer. This stretch of the Mula river has some of the last remaining old-growth riparian trees in the region. These are not just trees, they are the living lungs of the river ecosystem, home to turtles, peacocks, and painted storks. Removing them for a beautification project is short-sighted. We urge everyone, not just PCMC residents, to email their objections before 30th July and attend the hearing on 4th August. If we stay silent, we lose our natural heritage forever."
Swapnil Thakur, a resident of Wakad, said, "In May 2019, I met with an accident and nine bones in my body were fractured. I still carry three metal implants. It takes a toll on your mental health too, but in my case, nature healed me. The trees, birds, river, and the green cover gave me a second life. I'm an engineer, but after the accident, nature healed me and I would do my best to protect our environment. I'm a one-man band. I go on the street and perform. With my music, I try to create awareness regarding the environment. I want people to come forward and strike a conversation regarding RFD."
A collective of concerned citizens and social organizations working for the rights of rivers is urging everyone who cares about the environment to voice their objections. One does not have to be a PCMC resident to submit an objection. The active resident says, "It’s time to stand up for our trees, our rivers, and our future."
The public hearing will be organised on August 4, 2025, at 11 AM at PCMC Garden Department, Yashwantrao Chavan Gulab Pushpa Udyaan, Bhosari, Pune.
