A special committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal's Pune bench conducted a crucial site inspection in Nashik on Friday. The team visited multiple locations, including Tapovan, to assess trees marked for removal as part of infrastructure development for the Kumbh Mela 2027.
Committee Scrutinizes Proposed Felling Sites
The three-member panel, formed following an NGT directive from December 12, 2025, spent nearly two hours at Tapovan. This area is slated for development into Sadhugram, a residential zone for sadhus during the mega religious event. The inspection aimed to verify the necessity of the proposed tree cutting and transplantation across arterial roads, the Godavari riverfront, and approach roads to Trimbakeshwar.
Accompanied by petitioner Shriram Pingle, activist Devang Jani, and other environmentalists, the committee also toured four to five other spots in the city. The NGT's earlier order had restrained authorities from cutting any trees "other than prescribed under the law" until January 15 of this year, making this visit a key fact-finding mission.
Review of Compensatory Plantation Efforts
Beyond the inspection of trees marked for felling, the panel evaluated the Nashik Municipal Corporation's (NMC) compensatory afforestation work. The team visited municipal plots where the NMC claims to have planted over 2,500 new trees, each approximately 15 feet tall. This review is central to the plea filed by Shriram Pingle, which challenges the civic body's plans for mass felling and transplantation.
The committee comprised Nitin Pawar, NMC deputy commissioner (Godavari cell); Prashant Khairnar, assistant conservator of forest (Nashik west); and Prashant Gaikwad, a senior Maharashtra Pollution Control Board official.
Next Steps and NGT Hearing
Following the field visit, the committee will convene within a day or two to discuss its observations. "We inspected Tapovan and other sites and reviewed the plantation work. The committee will meet in a day or 2 to discuss observations before preparing the report for submission to the NGT," stated Nitin Pawar.
The compiled report will be presented before the National Green Tribunal at its next hearing, which is scheduled for January 15. This submission will play a pivotal role in the tribunal's final decision on balancing urban development for the Kumbh Mela with environmental conservation in Nashik.
