Pune: A policy allowing the Pimpri Chinchwad civic body to handle tree pruning and cutting in housing societies should be framed, instead of letting residents bear the brunt of the expenses, said PCMC standing committee chief Abhishek Barne.The move follows concerns from several housing societies about the recurring cost of maintaining trees on their premises. Residents said trees often require pruning every two to three years, putting a significant financial burden on housing societies. They also claimed the cost discouraged residents from planting trees and, in some cases, led to unauthorised pruning or tree cutting.Sachin Siddhe, chairperson of Nano Homes Housing Society in Ravet, who raised the issue with public representatives and civic officials in May, said the society had spent Rs 2.5 lakh to prune around 150 trees on its premises.“Residents are already spending a substantial amount on water tankers, as PCMC is unable to ensure a regular water supply due to its alternate-day supply system. In such a situation, the civic body should take care of other expenses that residents are forced to bear,” Siddhe said.At present, housing societies generally hire private contractors to prune trees and clear the resulting green waste. The contractors obtain the necessary permissions from the garden department, reducing the need for residents to follow up with civic officials.This issue was also raised by Chinchwad MLA, who in May wrote to the civic chief seeking that the PCMC undertake tree pruning and cutting responsibilities in housing societies.Currently, PCMC prunes and cuts trees only in public spaces. This exercise is intensified before the monsoon to mitigate the risk of falling trees or branches during heavy rain.However, a senior PCMC official said manpower shortage and the financial implications could pose major challenges to implementing the proposed policy.“The garden department already has inadequate manpower and struggles to meet the existing requirement for pruning and cutting trees along roads and in public spaces. Extending the service to housing societies would put further pressure on the available staff. Besides manpower, appointing consultants or third-party agencies would involve significant expenditure and add to the financial burden on the civic body,” the official said.Barne said the policy was necessary amid growing concerns over tree conservation, unauthorised pruning and public safety.“Officials have been asked to frame a uniform policy through the garden department and other concerned agencies to ensure tree pruning is carried out in a planned manner and in accordance with the rules. Complaints about tree felling and unauthorised pruning have increased in recent times. The policy will help curb illegal tree cutting and unnecessary pruning while simplifying the permission process and improving coordination between citizens and the administration,” he said.Barne added that the policy would also provide for stricter monitoring of contractors and officials involved in tree pruning and make the process more transparent.“Residents have repeatedly sought pruning of trees and branches within housing society premises. To ensure they do not face a financial burden, the civic body is committed to bringing in a separate policy under which it will bear the cost of the process. Officials have been asked to prepare a draft policy,” he said.
