In Koregaon Park, Pune, the local government started cutting down trees on March 15, 2024. They removed 127 big trees to make space for a new metro station. Many people are upset because these trees were very old and important for the environment.
A study showed that 82% of the trees cut were native species, like neem, peepal, and banyan trees. These trees provided homes for many birds and helped keep the air clean. Local experts say that losing these trees can harm the neighborhood’s wildlife and air quality.
Many people in the community are unhappy. Over 2,000 residents joined peaceful protests outside the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) office last week. They also created a petition that got 15,427 signatures asking to stop the tree cutting and find better designs that keep the trees.
The PMRDA says that the new metro station will help lower pollution by reducing carbon emissions. They promised to plant 381 new trees to replace the ones that were cut down. However, over the last ten years, Koregaon Park has lost 23% of its tree cover due to other projects.
This situation is making people think more about how cities are planned. A survey showed that 78% of residents are worried about losing green spaces. National environmental groups are also paying attention, and a hearing is scheduled in April 2024 to check if the project followed the rules.
New studies say the cut trees provided shade to a large area and kept summer temperatures lower. The PMRDA plans to add green features to the new station to help make up for the lost trees.
