1)      The meeting was well attended by about 12 members of the Pune Tree Watch 12 members in all who attended the meeting. Shantha, Vinod, Juneja, Somesh, Mukul, Supriya, Tasneem, Elaine, Allen, Jill, Nahid Khan and Feroza.

2)      Updates were given on the Loni- Hadpasar road (Vinod and Somesh) and Uday Baug (Nahid Khan).

3)     Tasneem recounted what had been achieved by the Pune Tree Watch group so far via interaction with members of the Pune Tree Authority during the last 3 months, as follows:-

a)     To save time, the Tree Authority has agreed to joint visits with members of the PTW to inspect sites where permission has been given or asked for to cut trees, and to see how a maximum number of trees could be saved.

b)    The tree Authority has also agreed to mark trees with signs, which will show whether the tree has to be cut, pruned or transplanted.

c)     “Co-operation is better than confrontation” is the method being adopted by the PTW.

d)    So far the Tree Authority has been co operative and receptive to suggestions offered by us, but whether they are being implemented, has to be monitored closely by the group. 

e)     So far the press has been very responsive and supportive to our activities.

4)     Somesh from the Tekdi Group talked about a workshop that they had conducted with the Government authorities, to develop the Hills, Nallas, and riversides around Pune as Green Belt zones.  Other issues discussed were: having stringent and clear-cut laws relating to Urban Development, encouraging terrace gardening, and the development and maintenance of parks and greenery.

5)     It was decided by the group, that the Pune Tree Watch should focus its activities primarily on a) creating public awareness regarding laws relating to tree-cutting and how the public can help and support us in saving as many trees as possible, and b) to actively involve our members in saving as many trees as possible, c) to enlist more and more members into our email group from all over Pune to act as public watchdogs. 

6)     18^th & 19^th February Fruit and Flower show at Shambhaji Park: to attend this in large numbers and distribute leaflets to the public in order to raise the awareness level, and also to generate funds for our activities. Those present contributed Rs.600 towards the printing of the leaflets.

7)     RAISING FUNDS:  Mr. Vinod Jain, very generously handed a cheque of Rs.2500 to Tasneem, and has agreed to donate this amount each month towards the PTW activities.  Other ideas in order to raise funds, were to charge different categories of membership fees, and approach corporates for funds.

8)      Supriya will find out whether we could work with INTACH to mark heritage trees.

9)      Tasneem will prepare a short note for members on the Maharshtra Tree Act and what the points of action should be. Till then members can read its simplification on the link  http://www.kalpavriksh.org/f3/punetw/mta_doc/.

10)      Possible use of  the Environment Clearance instrument that is applied to projects that are above a certain limit of investment and/or waste disposal. This could be used wherever the Maharashtra Tree ACt fails to for large scale investmenst atleast.

11)  Insist on the tree census.

12)  Mukul is currently co-ordinating a CD on Trees, for Centre of Environment Education (CEE). He will put it up on the yahoogroups site so people can access it and send in their comments.

13)  Feroza will work on the amendments required in the Maharashtra Tree Act in the next two months.

14)  Nahid urged the need to organise a Press Conference.

15)  For the 18th and 19th flower show, Elaine has suggested putting up a street play or dance performance. She has said that she will try and organise it if possible.

16)  The need to meet the Municipal Commissioner also came up but it was decided that this should be done only after we have prepared ourselves with good information (which we actually have), compiled it and with clear cut demands from our side.  If members feel that this needs to be done urgently then they can volunteer some time to put this together.

17)  The group then drove to Loni Kalbhor, Hadapsar, where Mr. Vinod Jain pointed out to us the 268 huge over 100 year old banyan trees which are being massacred due to road widening.  The permission has been given by the Forest Department whose office in the Mamlatdar Kacheri, Khadak Maliali.  With a bit of ingenuity, several of these trees can be saved if the road alignment is slightly changed, and the road is widened only from one side, saving all the trees on the other side, and alternately also using the trees as a road divider.  This activity has to be co-coordinated with the P.W.D. who is constructing the road.  As these 100-year-old trees form a natural heritage of Pune, we suggest that the INTACH members also get involved in trying to save these trees.  The PTW members formed a chain, along the Banyan Trees and photographs were taken, which we hope will appear in the press in order to alert and activate other members of the public. After the site visit some of us went to the nearby Police Chowky to ask them to stop the work. Surprisingly the inspector was listening. He mentioned that this is work that they would also like to help in. Though he mentioned their various limitations. Also the loss of money for the government and the loss of livelihoods for the people employed if the work