Members who attended today's meeting were Kapil Asher, Anchal, Samir, Niranjan, Vinod and myself. The meeting was a waste of time atleast they want to make us feel that our time has been wasted or so it seems. Same things done and said; and much more opposition to our group. One thing comes out clearly that 90% the members of the Pune Tree Authority are extremely sour about the non-happening of the Japan Trip. This time we saw more new faces and much much much more opposition. Our NIBM star was also there (refer previous mails). The chairman of this meeting was a member of the Pune Tree Authority - Yogesh Bachal. This is the second time that there is no competent chairman for the meeting. When we told  them that we want one of the commissioners (joint/addt) to be present;  the yelling and the chaos began. I was told that this is not your problem, these are the rules that they are following.

 

Our letters of objection were merely read out. Public Hearing redefined as 'Public only hears'. Everytime we put in recommendation or a suggestion they said in unison that this should be simply noted, and we would  decide. No definite answers; only fingers pointing to something called the Pune Tree Authority Rule Book that Khaire has not given me inspite of being after him from last year. When I asked a senior member if there are indeed any rules, he said he was unsure and would check it up.

 

Khaire did not even read out the letter where I had taken a blanket objection. We tried to call Kareer to come, he said he was at a disaster management meeting. I guess this was exactly where he could have implemented the disaster management plan. Mr Sanghelia told me to speak in Marathi only. This was the same Mr Sanghelia who spoke of working together. Another new face also expressed the same and then thanked me for my suggestions in English!.

 

The good part of the meeting was post meeting when we managed to meet Prashant Waghmare, city engineer and told him all the issues that go around saving trees in construction areas.  We requested that atleast one person be deputed to help us whenever possible. He said that this needed to be discussed with Khaire and our group jointly only after which a plan could be put in place.  So we are due to meet on the 3rd saturday of this month. 

 

There we also met a young fellow, Anthony and his associates who are prosposing to do the tree census for Khaire via GIS(I don't recall the full form). This is what Khaire told us as well in the meeting he attended. He said that he would love to join the group and help us with tools if we need them. We have planned to organise a presentation with their company and figure out where their skills could help the group work.