After two years in 2027, ‘Simhastha Kumbh Mela’ will be organized in Nashik and Trimbakeshwar, Maharashtra. Devendra Fadnavis’s government is busy preparing for Nashik Kumbh. of Uttar Pradesh last year In view of the success of Mahakumbh in Prayagraj, Maharashtra government aims to make Nashik Kumbh Mela a complete success, but a controversy has arisen regarding the cutting of 1800 trees before the Kumbh Mela.
A petition was filed in the Bombay High Court against the cutting of 1800 trees for the construction of Sadhugram in Tapovan, Nashik. The court has issued a notice to the state government, Nashik Municipal Corporation and the Tree Authority and has verbally instructed them not to start cutting trees. This has dealt a blow to the Devendra Fadnavis government. This legal battle has now reached a critical juncture amid strong opposition from environmentalists and local residents.
Previous during Devendra Fadnavis government in October 2014 Nashik Kumbh Mela The event was organized. This time when Sihastha Kumbh will be organized, Devendra Fadnavis is again the Chief Minister of the state and he wants to make better preparations than the previous Kumbh, because Kumbh is organized every 12 years. The government is trying its best to ensure that five times more people come to the year-long Kumbh in Nashik and nearby Trimbakeshwar than last year.
A budget of Rs 25,055 crore has been approved for infrastructure development and logistics arrangements in Kumbh. However, a Kumbh project is facing hurdles and the issue of cutting of 1800 trees in Tapovan has come to a head.
Know what is the matter
Tapovan is about 3 kilometers from Ramkund, where devotees take a dip in the Godavari during the fair. According to popular belief, Lord Ram spent part of his exile in Nashik, especially Tapovan.
In previous fairs too, Tapovan was used to house the sadhus and is officially known as Sadhugram in the city’s development plan. Tapovan is still lying vacant amidst the fairs. These trees had grown about ten years ago, when the city had expanded to the edges of the plot and the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) had planted trees to prevent encroachment. With time, Tapovan became an important urban area for Nashik.
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In early November, some people out on a morning walk saw tree-felling notices pasted on several trees in Tapovan. Since then there is an uproar among the people on this issue, activists are raising the question that when there are many other places nearby then what is the need to vacate Tapovan?
Nashik Corporation approves proposal to cut trees
A huge Sadhu Gram (village of sages) is being constructed in Tapovan to accommodate lakhs of sages and saints from across the country for the Simhastha Kumbh Mela to be held in 2027. The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has proposed to clear about 54 acres of land called Tapovan, which has 1,800 trees, to create the main Sadhugram (a place where ascetics live) for the fair and has given permission to cut these trees.
However, it is being strongly opposed by the local people as well as many environmental saints. Social activists, actors, including Marathi name Sayaji Shinde, and students have been coming to Tapovan daily and hugging trees and holding placards, protesting against the Nashik Municipal Corporation’s plan.
Movement against the order to cut trees
On December 11, Pune-based activist Shriram Pralhadrao Pingle filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against the proposal to cut trees, saying thousands of native trees, some of which are decades old, are being cut without proper environmental impact assessment. Pingle said that the right options were not explored and the authorities have blatantly ignored legal requirements. The next day, the NGT stayed the cutting of trees till the next date of hearing, which is January 16 next year.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court against the proposal for felling of sadhu and directing construction of Sadhu Village and Exhibition Center at Tapovan. The main demand in the petition is that Nashik Municipal Corporation should be asked to stop cutting of trees in Tapovan. The court has issued a notice to the state government, Nashik Municipal Corporation and the Tree Authority and has verbally instructed them not to start cutting trees.
Government’s initiative, 15000 trees will be planted in return
On the other hand, Chief Minister Fadnavis has said that the protests have been politicized. Some people feel that they can create obstacles in the way of Kumbh Mela. They will not be allowed to stop us. Fadnavis raised questions on the intentions of some protesters and said that they had started activism in this regard and suddenly became environmentalists. He said, I respect real environmentalists, but some people have become environmentalists for political reasons. Now, to counter the activists, the government has launched Green Nashik, under which 15,000 trees will be planted.
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The procession for Amrit Snan (one of the sacred dips) also starts from there, Nashik Municipal Corporation Commissioner Manisha Khatri told reporters last month. Changing its location will cause serious disruptions in traffic and will also put people’s lives in danger.
Khatri also termed the claims of large-scale cutting of trees as rumors and said that not all of the trees that have been marked will be cut. He said, only the 1,800 trees mentioned have been counted. Only alien trees that harm biodiversity will be removed, apart from minor clearing of bushes and small trees. We will not touch big, native trees.
What are the rules for cutting trees in Maharashtra?
Under the Maharashtra Felling of Trees (Regulation) Act, 1964, rules have been made regarding how and when trees can be felled in the state. It says that you cannot cut certain trees without the permission of the authorities. Cutting trees without permission is illegal and can lead to punishment. Under this Act, permission has to be taken from the local tree officer and officials.
As per rules, within 30 meters of water bodies (like rivers, springs, tanks), you generally cannot cut trees without the permission of the collector. Similarly, on some lands where farming cannot be done and trees are less, you will have to take permission before cutting them.
If a tree is cut without permission, the corporation can impose a fine of up to Rs 1 lakh and take legal action including criminal cases.
On the proposal of cutting trees in Tapovan for Kumbh related development, the Bombay High Court said that no tree should be cut in Nashik area without its prior permission. Along with this, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered a ban on cutting of trees in some parts of Nashik until the correct legal process is followed.
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