Opposition protests PMC’s tree felling drive

Meanwhile, civic activists have planned an agitation against the PMC’s action, which will be held near the entrance of Pune University on Wednesday at 9 am.

Several trees at Ganeshkhind Road were recently chopped down during the night.

THE Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) administration is facing criticism from opposition parties in the city for cutting down trees at Ganeshkhind Road during the night to widen the road on the stretch from Pune University to Bremen Chowk.

Following protests by residents of Aundh, the opposition parties, led by the NCP, staged a protest against the PMC during the General Body meeting. NCP leader Chetan Tupe said, “It is shocking that the trees disappeared overnight. The civic administration is unable to support its action taken in the night.” Tupe also sought an explanation from the civic administration.

During the meeting, opposition leaders carried banners in the General Body hall, raising slogans against the civic administration. Municipal Commissioner Kunal Kumar said the civic administration has also received complaints from local residents, and promised to conduct a probe into the matter.

He added that the PMC will launch a mobile app on Wednesday, where residents can file applications or complaints regarding tree felling. “The PMC has also completed GIS mapping of 11 lakh of the 40 lakh trees in the city,” he said.

To keep a check on illegal cutting of trees, the civic chief said the PMC is planning to start scanning satellite images of the city every six months.
“It will make it easier to identify the locales where trees are being chopped down illegally.” he added.

Meanwhile, civic activists have planned an agitation against the PMC’s action, which will be held near the entrance of Pune University on Wednesday
at 9 am.

Activist Vaishali Patkar said, “It is learnt that the tree cutting was ordered by a legislator, so, everyone should send him a ‘Get Well Soon’ message.”

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