As Pune races toward urbanization, the PCMC’s aggressive tree-cutting spree—17,479 trees axed in 5 years—has left the city gasping for green relief. With failed replantation and just 15% green cover remaining, experts warn of irreversible damage to Pune’s ecological balance.
Mrudula Narale
Pune, 12 April 2025 – The Pune Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has been aggressively cutting down trees to make way for infrastructure projects like flyovers, roads, metro expansion, and housing developments. Over the past five years, a staggering 17,479 trees have been felled, while only 4,242 have been replanted—and worse, over 90% of these replanted trees have died due to neglect. This has led to a sharp decline in Pune’s green cover, which now stands at just 15.13%, exacerbating rising temperatures, air pollution, and ecological imbalance.
Key Issues Highlighted
- Massive Tree Loss vs. Poor Replantation: For every tree cut, PCMC’s replantation efforts fail, with most saplings dying from lack of water, fires, or sheer neglect.
- Smart City Projects = Green Destruction: Large-scale deforestation continues under the Smart City Initiative, with little accountability.
- Legal Actions, But No Real Change: While over 30 people have been fined for illegal tree cutting, authorities themselves permit unchecked felling for development.
- Hazardous Tree Removal: The Garden Department claims trees are only cut if diseased, uprooted, or dangerous, but inspections are slow (taking up to 60 days for approvals).
Why Does This Matter?
- Increased Urban Heat: Fewer trees mean hotter summers and reduced shade.
- Worsening Air Quality: Loss of green cover contributes to higher pollution levels.
- Flood Risks: Without tree roots to absorb rainwater, waterlogging and flooding increase.
- Biodiversity Loss: Birds, insects, and urban wildlife lose their habitats.
What Can Be Done?
- Strict 1:3 Replantation Policy: For every tree cut, three new ones must be planted and maintained.
- Public Monitoring: Citizens should track replantation drives and survival rates.
- Transparency in Permissions: PCMC must disclose which trees are being cut and why.
- Community Involvement: NGOs and residents can adopt trees to ensure they survive.
The Big Question
Should Pune’s development come at the cost of its environment? Unless PCMC takes urgent corrective measures, the city’s green legacy—and its residents’ health—will keep deteriorating.
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