Tree ambulance launched by Pune Municipal Corporation
By Antara Kulkarni
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) launched the city's first tree ambulance on World Environment Day on June 5. The initiative aims to protect, conserve, and restore the trees of the city. The service was inaugurated by president of NGO AngholichiGoli (Bath Pill) Madhav Patil, alongside PMC Commissioner Naval Kishor Ram, Additional Municipal Commissioner Prithviraj B.P., and PMC Garden Department Head Ashok Ghorpade.
Patil said, 'It will work to heal the trees… it's all about giving respect to trees. This movement is necessary to introduce a balance between tree cutting and tree preservation,' says Patil. After launching a 'Nail-Free Tree' initiative, the NGO claims to have removed more than 1 lakh nails from trees.
The Tree Ambulance is equipped to protect the trees from the issue of nails. Patil encouraged Ghorpade to partner up with various NGOs in different parts of Pune that operate the Tree Ambulance. Each NGO in their area in Pune is assigned a separate day of the week where they can use the Tree Ambulance to clean and preserve the trees in that area, so that the vehicle can be utilised in the most effective way possible.
The tree ambulance is now located at Jangali Maharaj Road, and has contact numbers displayed so that concerned citizens can inform its operators about where its services may be utilised best.
(Antara Kulkarni is an intern with The Indian Express)
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