Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray on Saturday (November 29, 2025) opposed the State government’s plan to cut trees in Nashik’s Tapovan area for the construction of Sadhu Gram ahead of the 2026 Kumbh Mela, warning that his party will stand with citizens if the government adopts a confrontational stance.
The proposed Sadhu Gram is planned over roughly 1,000 to 1,200 acres in Nashik’s Tapovan area, and about 1,800 trees have been marked for removal, according to municipal notices. Environmental groups and residents claim some of these trees are over a century old. A notice issued by the Nashik Municipal Corporation inviting objections drew hundreds of responses, and a recent hearing saw strong protests against the plan.
On November 24, the Nashik Municipal Corporation clarified that old and ancient trees will not be cut, and only younger trees and shrubs will be removed.
Taking to X, Mr. Thackeray said that the government has decided to cut 1,800 trees for the upcoming Kumbh Mela but this is not the first time that a Kumbh Mela is being held in Nashik. A Kumbh Mela was also held during the tenure of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena-led Municipal Corporation too.
आगामी कुंभमेळ्यासाठी सरकारने १८०० झाडं तोडण्याचा निर्णय घेतला आहे. नाशिकमध्ये कुंभमेळा हा काही पहिल्यांदा होत नाहीये. महाराष्ट्र नवनिर्माण सेनेच्या महापालिकेच्या सत्ताकाळात पण कुंभमेळा झाला. त्यावेळेला आम्ही भरपूर पायाभूत सुविधा उभारल्या. त्यावेळच्या नगरसेवकांचा आणि प्रशासनाचा…
