Decorative lighting installed on trees outside hotels, restaurants and other commercial establishments across Pune has raised concerns over damage to urban biodiversity, tree health and compliance with environmental rules, according to a ground report by Lokmat.
The report found strings of lights wrapped around mature trees on busy stretches including Jangli Maharaj Road, Prabhat Road and Fergusson College Road. Large halogen lamps were also reportedly directed towards tree branches on roads in the central part of the city, including Congress Bhavan Road near the Pune Municipal Corporation headquarters.
Similar installations were reported on Law College Road and Ghole Road, where commercial establishments were found using tree trunks to support decorative lighting. The report also identified lighting on trees in areas including Nal Stop, Ruturaj Nagar, Market Yard, Sane Guruji Road, Katraj’s Dattanagar Chowk and other suburban locations.
Environmental activists cited in the report said attaching lights or driving nails into tree trunks could violate provisions intended to protect and conserve trees, as well as directions issued by the High Court. The report did not include a response from the Pune Municipal Corporation’s garden department or the establishments named in the observations.
Experts quoted by Lokmat said trees function as self-contained ecosystems supporting microorganisms, insects, birds and other animals. Hollows in trunks can provide habitat for birds, while branches may carry nests. According to the experts, prolonged exposure to bright halogen and LED lighting can disturb nocturnal species and affect the activity patterns of moths, insects, owls, bats and squirrels.
The report also attributed concerns about tree damage to the heat generated by lighting and the physical impact of nails. Environmental experts said wounds in the outer bark could allow fungi, insects and bacteria to enter the tree, while damage to internal channels that transport water and nutrients could affect growth. The report further said birds may abandon nests when exposed to intense light at night.
The issue extends beyond aesthetics. Lighting fixed to trees can create electrical and physical safety risks, particularly where cables, fixtures and high-intensity lamps are installed close to branches and public roads. Bharat Surana, an environmental activist quoted in the report, said the practice could also contribute to accidents. Uday Mohole and Vinaya Malati Hari, also identified as environmental activists, called for the administration to remove the lighting and protect the ecological functions of trees.
The report said environmental activists had accused the municipal garden department of failing to act despite alleged violations being visible on major roads. It did not specify the number of trees affected, the establishments involved, the duration of the installations or whether notices or penalties had been issued.
The immediate administrative step reported by Lokmat is a demand for action against lighting fixed to trees. The Pune civic administration’s response and any enforcement measures remain to be established.
