Recently transplanted trees stand along a path on ARAI hill, where regular walkers have questioned their survival and lack of accountability for their upkeep after relocation
The truck driver told the hill walker that over 100 trees were slated for transplantation there. At least 150 trees are likely to be transplanted. The tree must then be watered and monitored closely,” she said, adding that the survival rate of trees moved between ecosystems is barely 30%.
A senior official from Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) tree authority confirmed to TOI that the trees were being shifted from a plot in Patrakarnagar, where a private building redevelopment project was underway. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Pune | Silver Rate in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune | Petrol Price in Pune | Diesel Price in Pune | CNG Price in Pune | LPG Price in Pune Stay updated with the latest Pune news.
Workers at the site were seen digging pits and simply placing the trees in them, without any visible indication of the specialised procedures needed to improve their chances of survival,” she said. A hill walker, who requested anonymity, said, “Trees transplanted on ARAI hill during an earlier exercise did not receive adequate aftercare. “Trees also support entire ecosystems, including birds, butterflies, and other organisms, which cannot simply be relocated along with them,” Deshpande said.
Pune :Transplantation of trees from a private building project site in Patrakarnagar to ARAI hill has raised concerns among regular hill walkers about the survival of trees and lack of accountability for their upkeep after relocation. Later, a truck carrying more trees arrived at the site, where workers were seen digging pits to plant them. Sushma Date, a member of Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS), questioned how the trees’ survival would be ensured, particularly given the difficulty of watering them on the hill, especially during a drought year, and the lack of regular follow-ups. “Transplanted trees are often left unattended once they are planted, with neither the contractor nor the concerned authorities ensuring that they receive adequate water and care. The transplantation methods being used are also a major concern. The PMC official added, “The tree authority granted permission to transplant trees from Patrakarnagar, where an old building is being redeveloped. The builder’s contractor is legally responsible for the transplantation and subsequent watering of trees. However, the work could face challenges as temperatures have risen and the monsoon season has ended. Transplanted trees need careful handling of their root systems, as well as regular watering and maintenance for at least a year to improve their survival rates. I suspect that large trees are being uprooted here without preserving sufficient roots. Pune-based ecologist Shailaja Deshpande stated that the suitability of a tree species for transplantation must be assessed by an expert before relocation. “The entire root mass must be removed without disturbing the surrounding soil and microbiota. The pit at the new location must be deeper than the root system, and soil from the original site should be placed along with the roots. “It is always better to design architecture around existing trees, providing sufficient space for the trees to breathe, conserve, and protect them. That is the truly sustainable approach,” she added. Download the TOI App.
A regular visitor to the hill said approximately seven to eight recently transplanted trees were spotted along a path on the tekdi, behind ARAI, on Saturday morning.
“The plan has been approved, so permission had to be given,” the official said. He also advised that fungicide be mixed into the new soil before transplantation to prevent fungal diseases when trees are moved to a different patch of earth. He stated that he would issue further instructions to the contractor.
He added that he had visited the site two days earlier and instructed the contractor to ensure that the trees were removed with their root balls intact.