Kumbh preparation: NGT stays cutting of trees in Tapovan at Nashik

The western zone bench of the National Green Tribunal on Friday gave a stay to the cutting of trees at Tapovan in Nashik till January 15, 2026, after an applicant named Shriram Pingale claimed that the Nashik administration was reportedly cutting thousands of trees without proper Environmental Impact Assessment, under the name of ‘developmental requirements for Kumbh Mela 2027’. The NGT also directed the formation of a joint committee of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Nashik Divisional Forest Officer and Nashik Municipal Commissioner to prepare a report in the matter.

“The Committee is directed to visit the site, after giving prior notice to the applicant and submit its report within two weeks through e-filing in the form of searchable PDF/OCR Support PDF and not in the form of Image PDF. In the meantime, we direct that till the next date, no tree would be felled by the Authority concerned other than prescribed under the law,” the NGT order issued by Dinesh Kumar Singh and Dr Sujit Kumar Bajpayee stated.

Protests have erupted in Nashik’s Tapovan area, opposing the proposal to cut trees in a 34-acre plot for the construction of Sadhugram and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) hub in the region through a ₹300 crore project. This project is associated with the Simhastha Kumbh Mela, which is to take place in Nashik next year. The Corporation had sought suggestions and objections for the proposal to clear over 1800 trees from the area. Several environmentalists, local citizens, artists, and political parties continue to hold protests at Tapovan to oppose the government’s plan to chop off trees.

On Friday, the NGT gave an urgent hearing to Shriram Pingale, who claimed in his application that the local authorities had initiated a process for “mass felling/ transplantation of trees across various locations, such as main arterial roads, Godavari riverfront, approach roads to Trimbakeshwar, and other public areas citing ‘developmental requirements for Kumbh Mela 2027’”.

“It is further mentioned that the proposed action reportedly includes cutting of thousands of mature native trees, some of which are decades old, without proper Environmental Impact Assessment, without exploring viable alternatives, and in blatant disregard of statutory requirements under the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975,” the application had stated.

Environmentalists happy

Environmentalists in Nashik expressed joy at the passing of the NGT order. “No tree survey has been conducted by the authorities. Every year, budgetary allocation is made for it. The survey should be conducted in a scientific manner. That has not happened too,” Devang Jani, an environmentalist from Nashik who has been fighting for Godavari’s rejuvenation for over a decade now, told The Hindu, adding that the corporation will not be able to chop off a single tree anymore.

‘No comments’

Nashik Municipal Commissioner Manisha Khatri refused to comment on the order. When contacted, she told The Hindu, “I have not yet seen the order. I cannot say anything without seeing the order.”