August 2007:

As part of one of the initiatives, the commissioner of Pune, Mr Pardeshi set up a committee for  trees that are getting cut for Roadwork, coordinated by Pune Tree Watch under the umbrella of the Pune Tree Authority. This committee had been meeting and working regularly to save trees on roads. We could like to acknowledge the role played by Mr Vinay Deshpande, officer-in-charge for road development in JNNURM to incorporate our suggestions to save trees and make the space for more plantations.

This section will detail that information. Detailed below is the report from the first meeting

Other reports (with photos incorporated) available below:

1. Major road widening plans came up in March 08.. here is the report on the site visit conducted for the roads to be made/widened on Rasta Peth, Timber Market, and other sites
2. Meeting with Deshpande and saving 50 trees on Ganeshkhind Road (all on one day!).. read the report
3. Site visit with Mr Deshpande on Alandi Vishrantwadi Road..read the report
   

On 1st Sept'07 we had the first meeting on the Road Commitee. Mr Deshpande was present and all the maps and layouts were at hand. The meeting was delayed  as maps and tree based information was still to be organised.

 
The other people present were

Mr. Ghorpade, Assistant Supt Garden dept.
Mr. Jagzhap, Tree officer, Garden dept.
Mr. Bipin Kadolkar, DyCE JNNURM  Cell.
Mr. Pachare, (Engineer for Baner Road)
Tasneem and Anchal, Pune Tree Watch

 
Summing up the meeting, we would say it was positive. 

These are the minutes as per our notes, of our three hour meeting ...

Road from Green Park Hotel to Sadanand Hotel named Baner Rd 4.8Km length and width 30 meters

The earlier status: 780 Trees  of which  100 to be cut and the rest (680) to be transplanted in the Biodiversity park. After discussion now - out of 100 trees to be cut, the indigenous/local species like Jamun, Neem, Chinch, Amba, Pepul, Mahogany will not to be cut as per Mr. Pardeshi's instructions to the extent possible. So such trees will be identified and further action planned accordingly.

There are 3 big properties Green Park, Sadanand Hotel and Veritas  which have large number of trees in their compound and hence they will request to transplant as many trees possible in the same compound. Besides these trees the rest will be transplanted in the Biodiversity park of Baner and Pashan adjacent area.

Further when asked how many new trees were being planned for plantation and what are the rules regarding avenue plantations for such roads, Mr. Deshpande stated that the road will have BRT dedicated lane, a side carriage way, cycle track, footpath and utilities that would come under the footpath cum cycle track including storm water pipe, drinking water pipe, electrical cables, telephone cables, and pvt telephone cables and hence they are unable to make provision for the new plantations.

We requested that they consult the Indian road Congress standards for the space for trees/avenue plantations and requested Prasad Latkar to send us the relevant information. There was plenty of discussion - our basic stand was that a treeless road (4800 mtr) will never make sense in the long run as it dissuades users to walk/cycle and is also uncomfortable under the very hot sun.   Tasneem suggested decreasing the carriage width  from 7.5 mtrs to 7 mtrs on each side. This would give 0.50 mtrs on each side of the road to create a  space for a dedicated 'lane' for trees. Mr Deshpande agreed in principle as the lessened width still worked according to the prescribed standards.The trees that would be recommended here would be with tap roots and which essentially grow straight.   The Garden dept will prepare list of such trees and they suggested on the spot trees like Kadamb and Badam which fulfill this criteria. Mr Deshpande however said that he would discuss this with the commissioner and get his approval for the same. If this works out 2300 trees will be planted in addition along the road and the ones that are on the site would be transplanted in pvt compounds along the roads or at other suitable locations.

New road as per DP plan but construction being speeded up due to Common wealth games as an alternate route should Baner road get  jammed. Behind Kapil Malhar on Baner Rd to Balewadi stadium:  The total length of this road is 4.4 km.          
Due of shortage of funds, the road width has been reduced to 16 mtrs which will affect now only 239 trees (initially it was 464) , of which all 239 will be transplanted. Since the adjoining land is all farm land, Mr Deshpande felt that there would be enough space along the road for transplantation and some of the transplantation could happed at the  biodiversity park in Baner-Pashan. He agreed to plant new trees on both sides of the future proposed road widening i.e 24 mtr,  along the edges which will also mark a natural boundary and which will ensure that there is space assigned for trees in the road plan whenever the time comes for that.

Airport Road From Gunjan Theater to Airforce road entrance post Yerwada Jail. 2.5Km length 24 meter width

The road work is already under progress and has BRT, side carriage way, cycle track, footpath and utilities etc. The scope for new plantations is zero due to the fact that much of the work has already been complete. In earlier meeting on 31st July Mr. Deshpande had agreed to transplant trees along the road in govt. properties like PWD office, central govt.office and qovt schools. But he got back saying he has looked at that option and its not possible. Since further building expansions may take place ; and that in the PWD office compound there is heavy theft which takes place and it is waste of effort to transplant there.

 This road will be treeless otherwise, though possible solutions will still be looked at. Mr. Deshpande said he has located a 30meter patch where plantations could be possible but other that that he can't seem to locate any other possible space for planting trees. We suggested shifting of services under the road by few feet but since most of utilities are already laid prior to building of road that it is not possible. We have also suggested holding meeting with Mohalla committee members, ward office , Rd dept, consultants, garden dept. officials to locate for spaces where trees can be planted inside the compound walls of private properties. This road is going to have heavy traffic;  and without trees on the road itself to cushion heavy traffic effects, this seemed to be the only viable option.

As per their information,  the BRT standard does not allow for any wide road divider to be made, so our suggestion to have a big divider in the middle with the trees did not take off . We have asked for maximum trees to be transplanted .

We made an overall suggestion that the boards that are put up which list out the details of the project in brief, shoudl also henceforth include the details on trees like how many to be cut, how many to be transplanted and how many new plantations. They like the idea and said they would discuss with the commissioner.