Tree census: PMC admits to delay

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) administration has admitted to a delay in tree census,blaming lack of funds for not meeting deadlines.

The administration said 30 per cent work is yet to be completed. As per the current status,there are 21.26 lakh trees in the civic jurisdiction. The areas where tree census has been completed include Aundh,Warje,Dhole Patil and Karve road. Work at Dhankawadi,Hadapsar,Tilak Road,Sahakar Nagar,Vishrantwadi remain incomplete.

In a discussion,the elected represntatives opposed the civic administration move to make it compulsory for builders to set up sewage treatment plants for housing projects involving a minimum of 150 apartments. The civic administration tabled the bylaws making it compulsory for builders to ensure reuse of water. Congress corporator Arun Dhimdhime said the PMC should ensure that its STP is fully functional and release only unpolluted water in the river.

“Expecting the builders to set up STP for housing projects of apartments more than 150 is not justified when the civic administration has failed to run its STP in fully capacity,” he said.

Corporator Ujjwal Keskar demanded that the civic administration include the bylaws in the new draft of development plan that is under preparation.

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories