Hundreds of activists will come together on February 9 to stage a 'Chipko March' in Pune to protest the felling of trees for the ambitious River Front Development (RFD) project. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk is also set to join the protest.
The march will start at 3:30pm from Kalmadi High School in Baner (Near Jupiter Hospital) to the Ram-Mula Confluence. The activists and citizens will be demanding the implementation of eco-friendly, sustainable river rejuvenation and to make the river clean and safe.
The activists are accusing the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) of destroying natural greenery along the riverbank near Bund Garden in the name of its River Rejuvenation Project. The protesters will hug the trees along the riverbank while forming a human chain.
Prajakta Mahajan, a member of Pune River Revival, said, "At the Ram-Mula confluence, a sacred grove stands as living heritage, with its centuries-old trees serving as ecological anchors. Every Sunday, our community gathers here for tree mapping, volunteer work, nature walks, and environmental education for schoolchildren. However, we were shocked to discover that on January 18, hundreds of these heritage trees were mysteriously numbered overnight. This sudden action raises serious concerns about the fate of this vital ecological and cultural site."
"The citizens of Pune deserve transparency about plans for this irreplaceable natural sanctuary. The reason for the march is that the RFD work from Wakad to Sangvi has started. Currently, the work is going on the PCMC side. On the PMC side, thousands of trees, like the Indian willow, have been tagged. We will walk to the Ram-Mula confluence and hug the trees that have been tagged," she added.
