Pune's Green Loss: Trees Vanish as Data Mysteriously Disappears

Pune faces a severe environmental crisis as numerous trees are felled for major infrastructure projects. The Metro work has led to over 1,000 tree cuttings, while the Ganeshkhind Road expansion project saw over 300 trees removed, with more slated for destruction. Activists report that the riverfront development project has already claimed at least 30,000 trees. Amidst this rampant deforestation, the Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) garden department has failed to track the survival of compensatory tree plantations, rendering afforestation efforts nominal.

The PMC admitted in April that data on the survival of the 17,533 saplings planted between April 2024 and April 2026 is unavailable. This lack of oversight prompted corporators and activists to move the Bombay High Court in June. Their petition argues that both PMC and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation are operating without a legally mandated Tree Authority, with commissioners acting in its stead. The PIL seeks to nullify decisions made by these commissioners and establish a proper Tree Authority.

Experts highlight a significant tree deficit, with urban development guidelines suggesting a need for 4 crore trees for a population of 60 lakh, while Pune's 2024 census recorded only 57 lakh trees. Legal provisions mandate planting numerous saplings based on the age of felled trees, with younger trees requiring a 1:3 ratio. However, survival rates are poor due to inadequate care, often with contractors planting trees merely to complete formalities. Transplantation challenges and the loss of mature trees contribute to rising urban temperatures and environmental vulnerability, necessitating better coordination and a dedicated tree-planting committee.