Two Members of Parliament from Maharashtra have launched a concerted effort to protect the green cover of Nashik's Tapovan area, urging the central government to intervene and stop the proposed felling of over 1,700 trees. The trees are slated for removal to develop Sadhugram, a temporary township for saints, ahead of the 2027 Kumbh Mela.
Parliamentary Appeal and Ministerial Meeting
During the ongoing winter session of Parliament, Congress MP from Dhule, Shobha Bachhav, raised the issue vocally. She appealed directly to the Centre to halt the planned tree cutting, emphasizing the availability of alternative sites within Nashik city. "Over 1,700 trees at Tapovan are to be cut to develop Sadhugram in view of the upcoming Kumbh Mela. We want the Centre to stop this and develop Sadhugram elsewhere in Nashik city to save these trees," Bachhav stated in the House on Thursday.
In a parallel move, NCP (SP) MP from Dindori, Bhaskar Bhagare, met with Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in Delhi on Wednesday evening. Bhagare submitted a detailed memorandum urging the minister's personal intervention to protect Tapovan's ecological wealth.
Ecological Warnings and Public Opposition
The memorandum submitted to Minister Yadav underscored Nashik's multifaceted significance and outlined severe environmental risks. It highlighted that the large-scale felling would critically impact:
- Air quality in the region.
- Local biodiversity and habitat.
- The area's natural temperature regulation.
- The overall ecological balance.
"The removal of these trees will cause irreversible damage to Nashik's environment. We request the Union minister's intervention to save them," the memorandum explicitly warned. The proposal by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has already sparked significant public backlash, with residents and environmental activists strongly opposing the plan. They argue that the project must be relocated to preserve Tapovan's cherished greenery.
Political Traction and the 'Green Kumbh' Ideal
The issue has now gained substantial political momentum. The MPs are collectively pressing the Union government to explore alternative locations for constructing Sadhugram and to adopt eco-friendly measures in all preparations for the mega religious gathering. Environmentalists have echoed this sentiment, cautioning that such extensive deforestation could severely undermine Nashik's aspiration to be projected and celebrated as a "Green Kumbh" destination in 2027. The demand is clear: development for the Kumbh Mela should not come at the cost of the city's vital environmental heritage.
