1 week Ago By Aditi Shekhar
Pune: The Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) has written to the Maharashtra forest department , asking it to examine public grievances and take action regarding destruction of the Ram-Mula devrai ( sacred grove ), and the felling of trees therein for the riverfront development project in the city. The development comes as a boost for a section of residents and activists who have been fighting to protect the vital green space. City resident Vandana Chaudhary reached out to MoEFCC on Feb 5 regarding the hacking of over 1,000 heritage trees and destruction of riverbanks at the grove for the project.
She had submitted that no ecological survey was conducted as mandated under the Biodiversity Heritage Act, 2002, and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, before mapping this as a site for riverfront development (RFD) project construction. Following this, the ministry on March 7 wrote to the state forest department, directing it to look into the issue. "As the matter is related to the Maharashtra state forest department, I am directed to request you to get the matter examined and take action as per the provisions of the extant acts, rules, and regulations.
The action-taken report in this regard may please be communicated to the applicant and ministry at the earliest," said an official from the forest protection division of the ministry in the letter. Chaudhary, in her complaint, stated that despite the devrai being undocumented, it holds immense ecological significance and deserves protection as a potential ‘community reserve' as per a recent Supreme Court directive. According to said apex court directives in the case of TN Godavarman Thirumulpad vs Union of India in Dec 2024, sacred groves in India should be legally protected as ‘community reserves'.
The MoEFCC has been tasked with leading efforts to designate and manage sacred groves, in coordination with respective state forest departments. The ministry has also been told to conduct a nationwide survey of sacred groves, demarcating their boundaries. Following the latest directive, the state forest department has directed the deputy conservator of forest (DCF), Pune, to carefully examine the matter and send a factual report to both Chaudhary and the ministry.
"Unfortunately, the Ram-Mula devrai has not yet been included in any survey and is absent from the list of devrais under Pune forest division," Chaudhury informed TOI, adding, "This presents an opportunity for the forest to be officially mapped, documented, and protected — even as it faces the threat of encroachment from the RFD project. Local authorities must be instructed by the state forest department not to touch this devrai until the official report arrives. Not a single tree or any wildlife should be harmed.
" Earlier, the Pune River Revival group had conducted a mapping activity of the riparian forest in the grove, counting more than 1,000 heritage trees and over 100 species of birds. They emphasized that all these would be lost to RFD projects. Chaudhury further highlighted that the Ram-Mula devrai serves as a vital ecological heritage site, supporting diverse flora and fauna while sustaining the biodiversity of rapidly urbanising nearby areas like Aundh, Baner, and more as green lungs.
She demanded that the authorities suspend all tree felling activities in the region urgently. Responding to the ministry's missive, Pune forest division DCF Mahadev Mohite told TOI, "We are examining the directions as of now. However, since it is not included in our working plan, we will have to conduct a site visit and examine the scope of protection we can provide.
If citizens have indulged as much in protecting the grove, it is of importance. We will examine the region and prepare a report.".
