Pune, 14 July 2025: In a significant development for environmental preservation efforts in Pune, the Hon’ble Bombay High Court has acknowledged the ongoing concerns related to tree felling under the Riverfront Development (RFD) Project.
The case was brought before the court through a Public Interest Litigation filed on March 25, 2025, by a group of concerned youth from Pune. Among the petitioners were Shalvi Pawar and Tanmayi Shinde, who, along with others, have consistently advocated for the protection of Pune’s fast-depleting urban green cover.
The petition challenges the legality of Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) approvals permitting the felling and transplantation of trees under Resolution No. 1/14 dated October 14, 2024, and the related permissions dated December 6, 10, and 11, 2024. The petitioners contend that these permissions are in violation of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975.
It was clarified during the proceedings that this issue is separate from the matter of environmental clearance for the RFD Project, which is being heard independently by the National Green Tribunal.
During the hearing on July 11, 2025, the Bombay High Court took note of an affidavit filed by the PMC on April 27, 2025. In this affidavit, the civic body acknowledged that it had granted six separate permissions for tree felling and transplantation along a 9-km stretch of the Mula-Mutha river. The affidavit revealed that approvals were given for the cutting of 1,302 trees and the transplantation of 1,843 trees. Of these, 997 trees have already been cut and 859 have been transplanted.
The PMC also stated that the first phase of the Riverfront Development Project has already been implemented after the filing of the affidavit. Following this, the High Court granted the petitioners the liberty to raise objections to any future proposals made to the Tree Authority for additional tree cutting, especially if such proposals are found to be in violation of applicable environmental laws.
The Court further stated that all arguments and claims by both parties remain open for future consideration.
The petitioners have urged residents of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to remain alert and continue monitoring developments related to the Riverfront Project. They emphasized that active citizen vigilance is essential to safeguard Pune’s urban forests and to ensure that the city’s development is both transparent and in accordance with environmental regulations.