Decision makers:
Mr. Shekhar Singh, Municipal Commissioner (Chairman Tree authority), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
Shri. Aniruddha Pawaskar, Chief Engineer (Road), Pune Municipal Corporation, Road Department,
Shri. Ashok Ghorpade, Member SecretaryTree Authority Department
Demands:
Get rid of the artificial steel trees that serve only aesthetic purpose
Undertake appropriate compensatory plantation measures in lieu of trees that were cut for widening of Aundh-Wakad road
Replace artificial trees with real trees
Speechless! PMC, PCMC - cut real, full grown trees for road projects and then erect artificial metal 'trees' to 'beautify' the roads. - A Pune resident posted on X
Even as Pune grapples with the scorching heat and days-long heat wave, trees continue to be felled such as those on the Aundh-Wakad road. What has replaced these trees? Artificial steel trees meant to ‘beautify’ the road!
What’s the issue?
Pune residents were shocked when they noticed several “tree-like” structures prop up on the sides of the Aundh-Wakad road a few days ago. The artificial steel trees have been erected by pouring a ton of concrete around the base to hold them stably. While the new steel structures are not real trees, the concretisation of the base will act as a major obstacle for the plantation of real trees at a later point.
The move has angered citizens across the city, who lament the arbitrary rapid infrastructural development by the authorities at the cost of the environment.
Several users took to X (Twitter) to express their disappointment.
“Speechless! PMC, PCMC - cut real, full grown trees for road projects and then erect artificial metal 'trees' to 'beautify' the roads. Considering that we are facing an urban heat crisis in Pune, this is criminal - heads should roll for this.” Sushma Date
“Would be interesting to hear from the brains trust behind these abominations on what they were thinking.” Chetan Bhattacharji, renowned climate journalist, posted on X
Over the past months, numerous mature trees have been mercilessly felled across Pune for road expansion and other urban development projects. Trees act as natural air purifiers, absorbing harmful pollutants and releasing oxygen, while also mitigating the urban heat island effect by providing shade and cooling the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the installation of artificial trees as a cosmetic solution is not only wasteful but also a poor substitute for the invaluable benefits provided by real trees. Pune has been in the wake of exceptionally hot and humid weather for a long time now and mercilessly chopping age-old trees could prove to be disastrous for not just present-times but also the future..
It is also worth noting that this isn’t the first time artificial trees have been erected. In 2023, when the city was preparing for the G20 meeting, exorbitant sums of money were spent on similar ‘beautification’ projects.
We’re appealing to the Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation to cease all further tree cutting activities along the Aundh-Wakad road and other areas of the city and invest in sustainable alternatives to urban development that prioritise the conservation of green spaces and the promotion of biodiversity.
We must move beyond cosmetic solutions that cost us our city’s greenery and future!
P.S. With your support we can continue our work for a more sustainable and green Pune. Make a contribution of your choice here. No matter the amount, it fuels our work in the long run. Donate now!
Decision makers:
Mr. Shekhar Singh, Municipal Commissioner (Chairman Tree authority), Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
Shri. Aniruddha Pawaskar, Chief Engineer (Road), Pune Municipal Corporation, Road Department,
Shri. Ashok Ghorpade, Member SecretaryTree Authority Department
Demands:
Get rid of the artificial steel trees that serve only aesthetic purpose
Undertake appropriate compensatory plantation measures in lieu of trees that were cut for widening of Aundh-Wakad road
Replace artificial trees with real trees
Speechless! PMC, PCMC - cut real, full grown trees for road projects and then erect artificial metal 'trees' to 'beautify' the roads. - A Pune resident posted on X
Even as Pune grapples with the scorching heat and days-long heat wave, trees continue to be felled such as those on the Aundh-Wakad road. What has replaced these trees? Artificial steel trees meant to ‘beautify’ the road!
What’s the issue?
Pune residents were shocked when they noticed several “tree-like” structures prop up on the sides of the Aundh-Wakad road a few days ago. The artificial steel trees have been erected by pouring a ton of concrete around the base to hold them stably. While the new steel structures are not real trees, the concretisation of the base will act as a major obstacle for the plantation of real trees at a later point.
The move has angered citizens across the city, who lament the arbitrary rapid infrastructural development by the authorities at the cost of the environment.
Several users took to X (Twitter) to express their disappointment.
“Speechless! PMC, PCMC - cut real, full grown trees for road projects and then erect artificial metal 'trees' to 'beautify' the roads. Considering that we are facing an urban heat crisis in Pune, this is criminal - heads should roll for this.” Sushma Date
“Would be interesting to hear from the brains trust behind these abominations on what they were thinking.” Chetan Bhattacharji, renowned climate journalist, posted on X
Over the past months, numerous mature trees have been mercilessly felled across Pune for road expansion and other urban development projects. Trees act as natural air purifiers, absorbing harmful pollutants and releasing oxygen, while also mitigating the urban heat island effect by providing shade and cooling the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the installation of artificial trees as a cosmetic solution is not only wasteful but also a poor substitute for the invaluable benefits provided by real trees. Pune has been in the wake of exceptionally hot and humid weather for a long time now and mercilessly chopping age-old trees could prove to be disastrous for not just present-times but also the future..
It is also worth noting that this isn’t the first time artificial trees have been erected. In 2023, when the city was preparing for the G20 meeting, exorbitant sums of money were spent on similar ‘beautification’ projects.
We’re appealing to the Pune Municipal Corporation and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation to cease all further tree cutting activities along the Aundh-Wakad road and other areas of the city and invest in sustainable alternatives to urban development that prioritise the conservation of green spaces and the promotion of biodiversity.
We must move beyond cosmetic solutions that cost us our city’s greenery and future!
P.S. With your support we can continue our work for a more sustainable and green Pune. Make a contribution of your choice here. No matter the amount, it fuels our work in the long run. Donate now!