‘Let’s hug trees’ agitation in Mutha riverbed in Pune city to protest felling of trees- The New Indian Express

By PTI

PUNE: Hundreds of activists on Saturday staged the ‘Chalo Chipko’ (Let’s hug timber) agitation in the Mutha riverbed in Pune city to protest the felling of timber for the bold Pune River Front Development (RFD) challenge.

The challenge envisages growth of a 44-kilometer stretch of the river financial institution comprising 22.2 km of the Mula river, 10.4 km of the Mutha river and 11.8 km of the Mula-Mutha river.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the inspiration stone of the challenge in March 2022.

The protesters held placards, shouted slogans and hugged the timber alongside the riverbank whereas forming a human chain.

The activists accused the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) of destroying pure greenery alongside the riverbank close to Bund Garden in the identify of its River Rejuvenation Project.

A couple of thousand timber together with some uncommon and outdated timber are being reduce down for a 1-km stretch of the riverfront, they alleged.

The PMC, nevertheless, refuted the claims and mentioned there aren’t any outdated and uncommon among the many timber that might be affected.

“During the work of river rejuvenation, it’s obligatory to reduce some timber, and in their place, greater than 65,000 timber can be planted,” it mentioned in a press launch.

Activist Sarang Yadwadkar claimed that flood ranges of the Mula and Mutha rivers would rise by 5 toes due to the challenge because the width of the water course is being diminished.

“Environmental clearance was given on the situation that not a single tree can be reduce, however with none permission, the PMC has already began felling timber contained in the river mattress,” he alleged.

Mangesh Dighe, environmental officer on the PMC, mentioned the target of the challenge is to defend the river financial institution on either side from flood and timber can be planted to create a inexperienced belt in the center of the city.

“The principal goal is to make the world air pollution free because the sewage water can be diverted into the sewage therapy plant,” he mentioned.

“About 10,000 timber are affected however greater than 3,000 timber can be preserved. More than 4,000 timber can be transplanted and solely 3,000 timber could have to be eliminated. The timber which we’re going to plant are complementary to the ecosystem of river,” he mentioned.

<br /> PUNE: Hundreds of activists on Saturday staged the ‘Chalo Chipko’ (Let’s hug timber) agitation in the Mutha riverbed in Pune city to protest the felling of timber for the bold Pune River Front Development (RFD) challenge.</p> <p>The challenge envisages growth of a 44-kilometer stretch of the river financial institution comprising 22.2 km of the Mula river, 10.4 km of the Mutha river and 11.8 km of the Mula-Mutha river.</p> <p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the inspiration stone of the challenge in March 2022.googletag.cmd.push(operate() {googletag.show(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });</p> <p>The protesters held placards, shouted slogans and hugged the timber alongside the riverbank whereas forming a human chain.</p> <p>The activists accused the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) of destroying pure greenery alongside the riverbank close to Bund Garden in the identify of its River Rejuvenation Project.</p> <p>A couple of thousand timber together with some uncommon and outdated timber are being reduce down for a 1-km stretch of the riverfront, they alleged.</p> <p>The PMC, nevertheless, refuted the claims and mentioned there aren’t any outdated and uncommon among the many timber that might be affected.</p> <p>“During the work of river rejuvenation, it’s obligatory to reduce some timber, and in their place, greater than 65,000 timber can be planted,” it mentioned in a press launch.</p> <p>Activist Sarang Yadwadkar claimed that flood ranges of the Mula and Mutha rivers would rise by 5 toes due to the challenge because the width of the water course is being diminished.</p> <p>“Environmental clearance was given on the situation that not a single tree can be reduce, however with none permission, the PMC has already began felling timber contained in the river mattress,” he alleged.</p> <p>Mangesh Dighe, environmental officer on the PMC, mentioned the target of the challenge is to defend the river financial institution on either side from flood and timber can be planted to create a inexperienced belt in the center of the city.</p> <p>“The principal goal is to make the world air pollution free because the sewage water can be diverted into the sewage therapy plant,” he mentioned.</p> <p>“About 10,000 timber are affected however greater than 3,000 timber can be preserved. More than 4,000 timber can be transplanted and solely 3,000 timber could have to be eliminated. The timber which we’re going to plant are complementary to the ecosystem of river,” he mentioned.<br />