A poster pinned to a tree in Tapovan, Nashik.
| Photo Credit: Vinaya Deshpande Pandit
In Nashik, the grape capital of India and host of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela every 12 years, environmental concerns over a plan to cut 1,800 trees for the proposed Sadhugram project in the historic Tapovan area have sharpened political fault lines ahead of local body elections.
The issue has pitted both Sena factions against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which leads the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra. While Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief, and Uddhav Thackeray, chief of the Shiv Sena (UBT), remain political rivals, their parties have found rare common ground in Tapovan, where authorities propose clearing trees across 34 acres to build Sadhugram and a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) hub, as part of a ₹300-crore infrastructure push linked to the pilgrimage.
Some see the protest by the Shinde Sena against the backdrop of jostling for the post of the Guardian Minister of Nashik, which is emerging as a key industrial and investment hub.
Temporary stay
The proposal has faced judicial scrutiny, with a temporary stay granted by the regional bench of the National Green Tribunal and the Bombay High Court. Recently, renowned Marathi writer Tara Bhavalkar urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to scrap the plan. Speaking at the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan in Satara last week, she underlined Tapovan’s historic and spiritual significance, citing references in traditional Marathi texts and calling for the preservation of its sanctity.
Political realignment
Last week, Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Aaditya Thackeray visited Tapovan to extend support to the protest led by the area residents.
“Several residents have opposed the government’s decision to destroy the ‘green zone’ of Tapovan and turn it into a ‘yellow zone’. People are angry with the BJP for this conspiracy to hand over green zones to the builder lobby in the name of development. We will not let it succeed. I promise you all to stay with you in this struggle,” he said.
A few metres away from where he sat with the protesters, Shiv Sena workers had put up a banner with an AI-generated image of the Chief Minister wielding a mechanical saw and cutting down trees.
Shiv Sena candidate for the local body polls Ajay Boraste, who has been leading the protests for several days, told The Hindu: “The Shiv Sena stands against this conspiracy to cut trees here. This is Tapovan. Lord Ram lived here. This place has a rich history. This is Nashik’s identity, which can’t be wiped away. A temporary stay is in place, but the proposal has not been cancelled. The killing of jungles is not acceptable to us.”
For thousands of Nashikkars, the election season has become an opportunity to put pressure on candidates across parties to scrap the Sadhugram plan. On weekends, schoolchildren join the demonstrations.
“Trees are our life. If we don’t get oxygen, we won’t be able to live. We want trees for our survival,” said a nine-year-old boy who had come to protest with his friends and teachers.
‘People’s movement’
Jagbir Singh, a teacher and NGO member, visits Tapovan daily to distribute pamphlets and spread awareness.
“This is a people’s movement. This is the only green area available in the entire Nashik. We want the government not to touch this land and instead use the alternate land available across the road,” he said.
Several protestors accused the government of taking an “adamant stand” that ignored public sentiment.
“The administration is the custodian of people’s wishes. If we want the green cover maintained here, the administration cannot go ahead and do whatever it wants,” Mr. Singh added.
Officials of the Nashik administration said they could not comment on the issue as it is sub judice, but maintained that they “will work together with people”.
‘Protests misguided’
Responding to the criticism, Sunil Kedar, an office-bearer of the BJP’s Nashik unit, said the protests were misguided. “There is a mistaken perception that all the trees will be cut. We are ourselves opposed to it. We have brought 15,000 trees from Rajmundri to plant them in Nashik,” he said.
Published – January 05, 2026 01:44 am IST