On April 14, 2025, people living in Koregaon Park, Pune, came together to protest when workers cut down 10-12 big trees. These trees were supposed to be moved to a different place by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). This act of cutting down trees was against the rules meant to protect the environment. The community quickly acted to stop the workers from doing this.
A local resident named Vijaya Suratkal was the first to speak up. She asked the workers for permission papers that showed they were allowed to cut down the trees. When the workers couldn’t show any valid papers, other residents, Rohan and Moin, joined her to form a group to stop the illegal cutting. Their actions showed how much people care about the environment and want to keep the green spaces in the city.
Things got tense when the police arrived. Instead of helping the protesters, the police seemed to support the workers. They threatened to file reports against the citizens for stopping the work, even though the workers had no permission to cut the trees.
Environmental activists pointed out that cutting down the trees went against court orders meant to protect them. This situation showed a big problem: there’s often a gap between environmental laws and how they’re enforced in Pune, especially as the city is growing quickly.
The Koregaon Park incident showed how important it’s for citizens to watch over their environment. Even when faced with resistance, the people who protested set a good example for others to follow when it comes to protecting nature.
Now, there’s a call for better rules and enforcement to protect Pune’s green areas. Many believe that quick action by the right authorities is needed to prevent illegal activities, especially as the city continues to develop and lose its trees and parks.
