Heritage Tree Cutting Allegation on Ganeshkhind Road Sparks Row in Pune

Former MP Vandana Chavan accused Pune Municipal Corporation of illegally planning to cut over 50-year-old heritage trees on Ganeshkhind Road without mandatory state tree authority approval and proper procedures.

Pune| 05 May 2026: Former Member of Parliament Vandana Chavan has alleged that the Pune Municipal Corporation is attempting to cut down decades-old heritage trees along Ganeshkhind Road without following mandatory legal procedures under the Maharashtra Tree Protection framework. Addressing a press conference in Pune, she claimed that the proposed felling of trees violates statutory provisions and bypasses required approvals from the State Tree Authority.

Chavan stated that more than 500 trees are proposed to be removed as part of a road widening project on Ganeshkhind Road, many of which are over 50 years old and fall under the category of “heritage trees” as defined under amended environmental protection norms. She argued that under the law, such trees cannot be cut without prior clearance from the competent state-level authority, yet no such permission has been obtained by the civic administration.

She further alleged that the design of the road widening itself appears to be structured in a way that prioritises tree removal rather than genuine infrastructure needs. According to her, while metro pillars in the area are spaced at a certain distance, the proposed road widening to a larger width raises questions about necessity and planning logic. She also pointed out that alternative design requirements mandated under relevant provisions have not been submitted by the administration.

The former MP was joined by political representatives and civic activists during the briefing, where a formal memorandum was submitted to the municipal commissioner urging the project plan to be reconsidered and the tree cutting proposal to be withdrawn. She raised concerns that the process may be influenced by interests linked to contractors or developers, calling for transparency in decision-making.

Chavan also highlighted that under the Maharashtra Urban Areas Tree Protection and Conservation Act, trees older than 50 years are given special protection status, and any removal requires strict scrutiny and higher-level approval. She maintained that bypassing this process undermines environmental safeguards and urban ecological balance.The Pune Municipal Corporation has not issued an official detailed response to the allegations at the time of reporting. The matter has sparked renewed debate in the city over balancing infrastructure development with environmental conservation, particularly in rapidly urbanising corridors like Ganeshkhind Road.

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