The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has embarked on an ambitious tree planting initiative as part of the Mula-Mutha river bank conservation, revival, and beautification scheme. However, the project encounters significant logistical challenges, primarily related to space constraints and uncertainties surrounding land availability. Despite a budget of 5 crores rupees allocated for the initiative, concerns have arisen among environmentalists regarding the feasibility of executing the proposed tree planting.
The PMC’s proposal, submitted to the Maharashtra State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, outlines plans to plant 30,000 trees under the scheme. A revised report acknowledges the impact on 22,150 trees within the river’s green belt, with 11,000 trees marked for removal and an equal number set for replanting. The execution of such a large-scale initiative raises questions, especially given the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and the diminishing availability of land.
While the Maharashtra Forest (Conservation) Act mandates planting more trees than those affected by development projects, the PMC faces hurdles in finding suitable land for replanting. Despite approaching the Forest Department for a minimum of 200 hectares of land, uncertainties persist, exacerbated by legal amendments in 2021 restricting land allocation for tree planting.
The Mula-Mutha riverfront development project, inspired by the Sabarmati river project in Gujarat, aims to undertake extensive works totaling 5 thousand crores rupees across eight phases, covering a 44 km stretch of the riverbed. Despite garnering support, environmentalists and organizations express reservations, citing concerns over potential ecological impact and the feasibility of tree planting efforts.
Activist Rupesh Keskar has highlighted discrepancies in the PMC’s tender process and raised concerns about the potential misuse of allocated funds. Advocating for a reassessment of the tree-planting initiative, Keskar calls for the cancellation of the tender process to ensure efficacy and sustainability amidst existing challenges.
