1,752 heritage trees identified in Panvel to be conserved by PMC

PANVEL: Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) has identified 1,752 heritage trees in its jurisdiction for conservation amidst the fast-paced development in the region. The protected trees are primarily of various local species.

A tree that is over 50 years of age is designated as a heritage tree as per the decision of the state Cabinet, which in June 2021, approved the amendment under Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act 1975. Any action concerning the cutting of such trees requires special permission from the State Tree Authority, along with fulfilment of compulsory requirements like compensatory afforestation or high compensation amount.

A tree census conducted by PMC earlier had recorded 6,77,923 trees, including 3,46,896 trees of native species and 3,31,027 exotic trees spread over all 20 wards.

“We had appointed an agency to identify heritage trees in the civic jurisdiction. All the wards were surveyed, revealing the presence of 1,752 such trees,” said PMC deputy municipal commissioner Swaroop Kharge. “The identification was done following instructions by municipal commissioner Mangesh Chitale, who wants the greenbelt in the region to not only be conserved but also increased. It will help maintain environmental balance as pollution is a major issue in any fast-growing city. In such a scenario, heritage trees play an important role.”

Panvel is witnessing a flurry of projects and trees are often the collateral damage in such urban development. Besides, there are the demands from residents for cutting of trees they perceive as dangerous. In such cases, PMC Tree Authority peruses through its records to check the status of the trees and if heritage trees have been earmarked for felling, special permission will have to be sought from the State Tree Authority, as the local authority is not permitted to do so.

According to PMC Tree Authority head, Sandip Pawar, “The heritage trees have been found in all four ward offices’ jurisdictions of Panvel, Kharghar, Kalamboli and Kamothe. Most of the trees are of the native species, with a few exotic ones. These include banyan, sacred fig, coconut, mango, rain tree, tamarind, jamun etc.”

He informed that the Authority is ensuring that these trees along with those planted in recent times are conserved. “We will survey them and take necessary action with regard to protecting and strengthening them,” he added.