Pune: The increasing trend of nailing advertisement boards onto trees in Pune has raised significant environmental concerns. These advertisements are not only damaging the environment but also disfiguring the city’s aesthetic appeal.
Environmentalists are calling for strict action against individuals and businesses that engage in this practice.
Thousands of trees have been cut down for various projects and highway expansions, with insufficient replanting efforts. Consequently, protecting and nurturing the remaining trees has become crucial.
Nails driven into trees for advertisements inhibit their growth and can lead to fungal infections due to rust, ultimately reducing the trees’ lifespan, particularly affecting smaller trees.
Various organizations and the state government conduct tree plantation drives during the monsoon and raise awareness about tree conservation.
Despite these efforts, the harmful practice of nailing advertisements to trees persists. Tree lovers express their dismay, noting that modernization and aggressive marketing tactics are shortening the lifespan of trees.
Many companies, construction firms, educational institutions, and individuals put up advertisements, banners, and notices on trees along numerous roadsides and major city trees using nails.
The municipal corporation’s negligence in addressing this issue is evident, leading to frustration among environmentalists. Complaints to the municipal corporation often result in evasive responses, prompting calls for decisive action against offenders.
Environmentalists like Sanjay Bokil urge the municipal corporation to act swiftly against those who nail advertisements to trees. Ashok Ghorpade, Superintendent of the Garden Department, emphasized that assistant commissioners have the authority to address this issue, as they also serve as tree officers and oversee the sky sign department.
Plant expert Sachin Punekar reiterated that nailing and wrapping wires around trees impede their growth and lead to fungal infections, thereby reducing their lifespan.