Uddhav Thackeray condemns Tapovan tree‑cutting plan ahead of Nashik Kumbh Mela, calls it environmental betrayal

Uddhav Thackeray criticised plans to fell 1,700+ trees in Tapovan for Nashik’s Kumbh Mela Sadhugram, calling it environmental destruction. Civic protests forced NMC to revise the felling list, sparking broader debate

Nashik|29 November 2025: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and leader Uddhav Thackeray has strongly criticized the proposed felling of over 1,700 trees in Tapovan  part of a larger plan by Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) to develop a “Sadhugram” for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela.

Thackeray accused the state government of exploiting religious fervour to satisfy contractor interests and accused the authorities of launching environmental destruction disguised as development. “Under the guise of Hindutva, Tapovan is being destroyed,” he said during a recent media interaction.

The NMC proposal had originally marked 1,825 trees for removal, including both saplings and mature trees, to clear the land for temporary accommodations and facilities for sadhus during the 2026–27 Kumbh Mela. After massive public outcry and over 900 objections filed by citizens and environmental groups, the corporation has revised the plan now saying only trees under 10 years old (mostly shrubs or young saplings) may be cut if absolutely necessary.

The debate highlights a deeper tension between the need to host large‑scale religious events and protecting ecological balance in urban green zones. Critics say that once mature trees are lost, they cannot be replaced simply by saplings, and question whether a temporary Mela infrastructure is worth the irreversible loss of greenery. Environmentalists and citizens continue to demand alternative sites for Sadhugram that don’t endanger Tapovan’s forest cover.

The NMC has promised re‑plantation where needed and launched a detailed tree survey. Still, many remain skeptical about whether the changes will sufficiently safeguard Nashik’s ecological heritage.

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