Unauthorized Felling of 33 Trees During Mula River Project Sparks Outrage
Pimpri Chinchwad, April 8:
The ongoing Mula River Improvement Project, initiated by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), has run into controversy after it was discovered that 33 trees were illegally cut down along the riverbank without official permission.
The PCMC’s Garden Department has lodged a formal complaint at the Sangvi Police Station. Anil Gaikwad, an officer from the department, filed the complaint under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act. Following this, a case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.
The ₹200-crore river improvement project aims to rejuvenate the Mula River, with the first phase spanning from Wakad Bypass to Sangvi Bridge. However, concerns have emerged after environmentalists reported illegal tree cutting in the Pimple Nilakh area. A subsequent inspection by the Garden Department confirmed that 21 trees were felled near Panchsheel Nagar, Iqbal Chowk, including species such as Subabhul, Neem, and Babul.
Additionally, 12 more trees were found cut near the Pimple Nilakh graveyard, including Babul, Subabhul, Karanja, Umbar, and Vilayati Tamarind.
Environmental activists have accused the contractor company of violating environmental regulations, misleading citizens, and contributing to ecological damage. “The river has become more turbid than before, and the biodiversity is being destroyed. We demand strict action against the contractor responsible for the illegal tree cutting,” a local social activist stated.
PCMC officials have yet to release an official statement in response to the allegations.
