Pune: In a significant move to compensate for the removal of trees during the Ganeshkhind Road widening project, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has planted 5,013 trees across various government-owned locations in the city.

This action follows an affidavit submitted by the PMC to the High Court, assuring the plantation of 5,000 trees in exchange for the 178 trees that had to be removed for the road expansion.

The Ganeshkhind Road widening project was necessitated due to the construction of the Hinjewadi to Shivajinagar Metro corridor and the flyover at Savitribai Phule Pune University Chowk. However, the removal of 178 trees for this project led to strong opposition from environmentalists, who filed a petition in the High Court.

The court allowed the tree removal under the condition that the PMC plant new trees and relocate some of the existing ones. To fulfill its promise, the PMC planted trees at several locations, including:

• Panchavati, Pashan: 858 trees

• Ganeshkhind Road sidewalks: 175 trees

• Animal Husbandry Center, Aundh: 1,889 trees

• Animal Research Center premises: 447 trees

• Egg Incubation Center premises: 1,290 trees

• Cow Research Center premises: 356 trees

Additionally, 41 of the 71 trees marked for replantation have been successfully relocated, while the decision regarding the remaining 30 trees is still pending.

Protective fencing has been installed around the newly planted trees along sidewalks to ensure their safety. All the trees belong to native species, including neem, sheesham, arjuna, amla, banyan, peepal, and champa, according to Aniruddha Pawaskar, the head of the PMC’s road department.