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Time of India
03-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Pune's Official Tree Count Looks Like A Hack Job
1 2 3 Pune: As per Pune Municipal Corporation's latest Environment Status Report (ESR) 2023–24, the city houses as many as 55,81,578 trees, with the figures showing a steady annual increase. But for a city that claims to host over 55 lakh trees, deteriorating air quality makes the essential act of breathing rather difficult for residents. Even as the civic body boasts of planting lakhs of trees and expanding the city's green footprint, the on-ground reality is riddled with data inconsistencies, opaque processes and a visibly shrinking urban canopy. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Citizens, environmentalists and independent researchers alike are raising an alarm about the glaring mismatch between the official data in the report and the ground reality. Activists pointed out that the ESR has simply copied ward-wise data from reports of previous years, which when added up comes to a total of 51,03,602 trees citywide. However, the citywide tree cover mentioned in the latest ESR is 4.7 lakh trees more than this total. The ESR uses data from the tree census, which ostensibly began in 2016 and was to be conducted every five years. However, environmental activist and researcher Ameet Singh asserted, "The data trajectory of Pune's tree census cannot be trusted. PMC claims to have completed a comprehensive tree census this year, but not a single dataset was made public." "Tree-felling allocations are cleared without accountability, and many trees counted in compensatory afforestation do not even exist," he added. Singh further said, "We are told the tree census is finished, but none of the data is in the public domain. There is no transparency. There are no geotagged coordinates, photographs, record of transplantation, or means to verify whether these trees are real." Singh, who independently mapped trees in Yerawada in 2023 with students from Wadia College, said a 100x100m survey block revealed 2,590 trees near the Mula-Mutha riverbank in the area. Official data, on the other hand, has contrary tree counts to offer along the entire river stretches — incidentally now at the epicentre of multiple project proposals being opposed by residents and activists. However, Ashok Ghorpade, member-secretary of the tree authority department refuted this and told TOI, "We finished the tree census this year in March. Despite all claims, we have taken every tree into consideration and the data gathered is accurate." Fluctuation in numbers According to the 2023-24 ESR, 2010 data shows a steep drop from 2003, despite rapid expansion of urban limits. Next, the 2016–17 tree census only covered 30% of the city's area and reported around 7.2 lakh trees, far below the expected count. And yet, by 2018–19, the number jumped back to over 41 lakh. Such fluctuations have never been explained in the ESR or any public platform. "There's a pattern here," said Singh. "They keep inflating numbers every year to create the illusion of progress. But on the ground, citizens are witnessing tree cover disappearing in front of their eyes." Activists argued that data is deliberately kept ambiguous to remain convenient for infrastructure projects. They claimed that PMC also counts tree cover on tekdis (which has mainly increased due to citizen-led plantation) and forest areas in the tree census — this inflates numbers, although green cover in urbanised patches stays terribly low. Singh said, "There's a huge disparity between Pune's urban tree cover and the green count from forests or hillside areas. Most of the latter land is just sedimentary hillside, it's not supporting proper soil-based tree growth on level ground. What we really need is a green canopy where people live, not just on paper. Yet, the tree census conveniently counts trees from slopes while ignoring ground realities. And when trees are felled for infrastructure, they are often not even part of official data. Officials just say, 'It wasn't counted,' so it doesn't exist on record. That's not a census." What are the ramifications? Pune currently has 1.128 trees per person, says the ESR. But to offset its 2.6 crore tonne of annual carbon emissions, experts say each person needs eight fully grown trees aged 40 years or more — a target too far from the current reality. "For a population of around 35 lakh as per the 2011 census, 55 lakh trees are nowhere near enough. We would need at least 40 years with record plantation drives to meet the target of achieving eight fully grown trees per person. That is the only way we can reduce our carbon emissions," said Sathya Natarajan, an expert who summarized the Maharashtra Tree Act, 1975, into a single-page document. Natarajan added that as per Schedule-1 of the Act, a tree must be planted every 10m. "We must at least protect the trees that are here right now. Even if we plant many saplings going forward — for which we do not have the space left anymore with rapid urbanization — they will not match the potential of a fully grown tree," he reasoned. He added, "While solar and wind energy can help mitigate emissions in certain sectors, trees offer a unique dual benefit — they not only contribute to mitigation but also support biodiversity, a role that other energy sources cannot fulfill." Singh agreed, adding that with discrepant data, the only beneficiaries are people lobbying for development without an understanding of the environmental cost. "Satellite data now shows that land surface temperatures in Pune range at 49°C, the second highest in India after Delhi. Similarly, satellite photos show that the tree cover increase that authorities claim is not true. They have violated court orders by not making the census public, too," he said. On-ground disparities swell As per the ESR, the city now has 430 species of trees, in which Gliricidia trees are the major constituents. The only prominent indigenous trees left are present in the Peth regions of the city and on some of the hills, which are also now facing a threat. Professor Ankur Patwardhan's study on carbon sequestration in 2024 had established that the city's green cover only sequesters 3,000 tonne of carbon yearly. Patwardhan, now research head at NGO Ranwa (Research & Action in Natural Wealth Administration), said, "A 50m belt of trees around a person helps lower the temperature by 3° at least. The only way to reduce tree cover disparity in different wards is continuous plantation of indigenous species in every area." Other experts echoed that the imbalance in green cover within wards is concerning. The Kasba-Vishrambaugwada ward only hosts 35,426 trees; Bhavani Peth shows even lower numbers at 12,546 trees. Peth areas and parts with previously large canopies — such as Sinhagad Road and Bibvewadi — are now left with only 1.64 lakh trees and 1.2 lakh, respectively. Meanwhile, Sahakarnagar has 11.9 lakh trees, and areas like Hadapsar-Mundhwa, Nagar Road-Wadgaonsheri, Shivajinagar, Kothrud-Bavdhan and Aundh-Baner host an average of 4.74 lakh trees per ward. This disparity is concerning, say experts, as the microclimate of an area is affected by its green belt. "People living in parts with better green cover have high oxygen availability, better carbon sequestration available and a cooler microclimate. Meanwhile, for those in the centre of the city, these are all negligible. Human health and hence human productivity suffer as a consequence. For an individual who probably has less oxygen and more pollution in their atmosphere, productivity is low and the microclimate affects their work output. This in turn affects the city's economic growth, too," said Priti Mastakar, environmental economist at Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics (GIPE). Experts stated that any tree-felling or trimming permission given henceforth by PMC must be analysed and compared with existing total tree cover of that region, even if the records may not be completely accurate. Without this, we are at risk of losing whatever is left of the trees of Pune. Residents Speak At least four heritage trees have been axed in the last few months in Sadashiv Peth. Everyone shoves a 'permission document' into our hands. But how is this permission granted if PMC knows the area is lacking in trees? They must conduct a field survey each time they grant permission, else we will lose all our trees to paperwork. The pollution is extreme here, vehicular emissions are high and there are no trees left lining our roads — Mahesh Joshi | Sadashiv Peth resident In Peth, many old wadas with community-based structures have been redeveloped since 2012. This occurred in isolation, so we did not realize that at least three or four trees within each compound were axed. By the time residents understood, it was too late. In Sahakarnagar, on the other hand, bungalows have buffer space, so trees can be saved even if redeveloped. The pollution is much less since I moved out of the Peths. Cluster redevelopment should be a new theme to save trees and water, and install solar energy and pre-STPs collectively. Pinnacle 9 Sadashiv is one example in Sadashiv Peth, and Pate Sankruti in Sahakarnagar — Vikrant Latkar | Sahakarnagar resident, (previously Navi Peth resident) The number of trees across Pune has gone down in the last few years. Farmlands and the biodiversity that come with them have vanished to make way for concrete buildings. We must slow down development that is heavily reliant on concrete and start implementing eco-friendly ideas. We must start balancing the damage already done. Tree cutting is rampant and needs to stop — Akanksha Pandey | IT professional _________________________ Official Says We completed the tree census this year in March, despite all claims, we have taken every tree into consideration and the data is accurate. Our biggest challenge has been counting the trees within Army or defence lands as entry was restricted. For properties that we did not have access to, which is probably just 0.5% of the total area covered, we have done our best to count them from neighbouring homes. So, for these areas, we don't have the exact count of trees — Ashok Ghorpade | Member-Secretary, Tree Authority Department _________________________ Minimum Tree Requirement Along the road (as per width of the road) • 24m and more: 1 tree per 10m • 12m to 24m: 1 tree per 10m • 6m to 12m: 5 trees per 20m • For plots above 121sqm: 2 trees per 20sqm • For plots up to 111sqm: 1 tree per 20sqm - Gardens, beaches, hillsides, green areas, river banks and wetlands: 1 tree per 20sqm - Gardens: 1 tree per 20sqm - Open spaces: 1 tree per 50sqm - Sports stadiums, small sports stadiums, playgrounds, children's play areas, open spaces in development plans: 1 tree per 100sqm - Government offices and corporate offices: 1 tree per 100sqm _______________________________ Inconsistent Data Over Years 2013-14: 1.23 trees per person, 62.34 per acre 2014-15: 1.23 trees per person, 62.34 per acre 2015-2016: NIL 2016-2017: 426 tree species, 131 rare trees, 72 varieties of trees found 2017-2018: 448 tree species, 89 rare trees 2018-2019: 1.23 trees per person, 418 species of trees, 111 rare trees 2019-2020: 1.23 trees per person, 418 species of trees, 111 rare trees 2020-2021: 1.39 trees per person, 429 species of trees, 124 rare trees 2021-2022: 430 species of trees 124 rare trees 2022-2023: 430 species of trees 124 rare trees 2023-2024: 430 species of trees 124 rare trees ______________________________ Types Of Trees - 430 species - 124 rare - 2,838 heritage
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
NGT tells citizen to suggest alternatives to fog machines for air pollution control in Pune
Pune: National Green Tribunal's western bench has sought alternative, scientifically grounded air-pollution mitigation measures from a citizen who challenged PMC's adoption of mist-spraying machines to reduce airborne dust and particulate applicant, Ameet Singh, requested directions to be issued to Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to conduct a scientific feasibility and cost-benefit analysis through an institute of repute before deploying technology-based air pollution interventions in challenged PMC's adoption of mist-spraying and fog cannon machines without prior efficacy or impact assessment, arguing such measures were ad hoc, costly, and lack scientific backing. The machines reportedly consume 6,000 litres of water per day per vehicle and cost over Rs 6 crore, raising concerns about resource wastage and environmental also requested for involvement of an institution of repute under the National Clean Air Programme to guide interventions and urged establishment of guidelines, high-grade air quality monitors, and regular meetings of the city-level air quality committee."We are of the view that it would not be wise at this stage to direct stopping the use of machines, which are already purchased or in the process of being purchased, till we find some other better solution to the problem," said the bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh and expert member Vijay Kulkarni. In response, Singh sought time till the first week of June to suggest measures which need to be undertaken to bring air pollution under control in the city."After receiving additional pleadings with respect to alternative measures to be adopted in place of what is being done at present by respondent No.1 – PMC, we will consider issuing notice to the respondents," added the bench. Singh requested the tribunal to direct PMC to monitor and provide accurate data on air pollution, to install sensors in Pune city to track air pollution at appropriate locations. He also argued that ineffective technologies were being adapted to tackle air pollution in Pune, including the proposed use of fog cannon machines costing over Rs 6 crore without any scientific study."Around Sept 2023, without any search being conducted, respondent No.1 – PMC proposed the adoption of mist-spraying machines to control air pollution. Huge sums of money have been spent on purchase of these machines without any study regarding their efficacy. Even fresh tenders have been issued for installation of these machines," said Singh in the application, adding that the tenders were withdrawn after reconsideration by the also added that in the information provided to him by the corporation, it was stated that the fog cannon machine vehicles would cover 80 kilometres per day and use 6,000 litres of water. Keeping this in mind, Singh sought scientific support to be extended to the planning authority of each city by an institute of repute identified by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and in collaboration with the Maharashtra Pollution Control tribunal, however, refrained from halting ongoing procurements but allowed time till early June this year for citizens to submit alternative, scientifically grounded pollution mitigation measures, instead of the measures adopted above. Over Rs 262 crore has been spent so far in the past four years from National Clean Air Programme funding without making a real difference to the air quality in Pune. If PMC spent as much on planting new trees, a substantial amount of air pollution could be mitigated, Singh argued at the tribunal and told matter has been further listed for June 17.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Kothrud and Bavdhan residents demand replantation of felled trees
Pune: Residents have demanded that the civic administration carry out compensatory afforestation in amenity spaces in Kothrud and Bavdhan, as PMC plans to fell over 100 trees for redevelopment projects. During a hearing held at the Kothrud-Bavdhan ward office on April 21, citizens objected to Pune Municipal Corporation 's (PMC) approval to fell over 100 heritage trees without any scientific analysis for multiple redevelopment projects in the area. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune They also demanded that the civic body identify all amenity spaces and conduct plantation drives on them. In addition, citizens demanded that the trees be replanted on the project premises to avoid uneven green cover in the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Undo "There are only so many amenity spaces in Kothrud and none in Dahanukar Colony. We want them to conduct the plantation of all the saplings in the amenity spaces to ensure no loss of green cover. More importantly, they should do it on the project premises. We are also trying to revive the Smruti Van in Warje where the compensatory plantation can take place," said Ameet Singh, a citizen who attended the hearing. Residents objected to the felling of trees without completion of the tree census, a lack of transparency with project documents, and no scientific age calculation. They also objected to the lack of alternative project plans, non-compliance with road and urban planning designs, no identified compensatory plantation locations and failed transplantation. "PMC is supposed to plant over 1,600 saplings as compensation for March. Moreover, our motive is to get the trees transplanted, as some trees would be felled for the projects nevertheless. Kothrud is already concrete enough, and now, with the redevelopment and felling, heat will only grow, and the last of the green cover will deplete," said Rekha Joshi, another citizen at the meeting. The attendees pointed out that many of these trees are old and heritage trees. The applicants for the tree felling proposals were also present at the hearing and agreed with the citizens' objections. "The meeting was successful as the applicants will now try to transplant all the felled trees on the project premises. If not, they replant the trees on other amenity spaces," said Vijay Naikal, assistant commissioner, Kothrud-Bavdhan ward office. Pune: Residents have demanded that the civic administration carry out compensatory afforestation in amenity spaces in Kothrud and Bavdhan, as PMC plans to fell over 100 trees for redevelopment projects. During a hearing held at the Kothrud-Bavdhan ward office on April 21, citizens objected to Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) approval to fell over 100 heritage trees without any scientific analysis for multiple redevelopment projects in the area. They also demanded that the civic body identify all amenity spaces and conduct plantation drives on them. In addition, citizens demanded that the trees be replanted on the project premises to avoid uneven green cover in the city. "There are only so many amenity spaces in Kothrud and none in Dahanukar Colony. We want them to conduct the plantation of all the saplings in the amenity spaces to ensure no loss of green cover. More importantly, they should do it on the project premises. We are also trying to revive the Smruti Van in Warje where the compensatory plantation can take place," said Ameet Singh, a citizen who attended the hearing. Residents objected to the felling of trees without completion of the tree census, a lack of transparency with project documents, and no scientific age calculation. They also objected to the lack of alternative project plans, non-compliance with road and urban planning designs, no identified compensatory plantation locations and failed transplantation. "PMC is supposed to plant over 1,600 saplings as compensation for March. Moreover, our motive is to get the trees transplanted, as some trees would be felled for the projects nevertheless. Kothrud is already concrete enough, and now, with the redevelopment and felling, heat will only grow, and the last of the green cover will deplete," said Rekha Joshi, another citizen at the meeting. The attendees pointed out that many of these trees are old and heritage trees. The applicants for the tree felling proposals were also present at the hearing and agreed with the citizens' objections. "The meeting was successful as the applicants will now try to transplant all the felled trees on the project premises. If not, they replant the trees on other amenity spaces," said Vijay Naikal, assistant commissioner, Kothrud-Bavdhan ward office.
