Actor Atul Kulkarni Questions Government Over Bhimashankar Tree Felling; Social Media Post Sparks Debate

Renowned actor Atul Kulkarni has raised critical environmental questions regarding the ongoing tree-felling controversy in the Bhimashankar region. Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Kulkarni questioned the government’s compensatory afforestation claims, asking, “Can cutting down fully grown trees be equated with merely planting saplings?” His post has drawn widespread attention from environmentalists and the public alike.

In his post, Kulkarni highlighted the misleading terminology often used in public announcements regarding tree plantation drives. He emphasized that planting a sapling is fundamentally different from establishing a mature tree, as saplings require decades of care, water, protection, and a balanced ecosystem to grow into large trees. Consequently, the immediate ecological loss such as dense canopy shade and bird habitats which cannot be instantly restored simply by announcing a high number of planted saplings.

“वृक्ष लागवड” “झाडं लावणं” असं काही असतं?
की आपण ‘रोपं’ लावतो?

रोपांचे वृक्ष होणं ही फार जिकिरीची आणि प्रचंड वेळ घेणारी प्रक्रिया असते.

‘अमुक इतकी झाडं पाडणं = अमुक इतकी रोपं लावणं’ असं असू शकतं?

#GlobalPhenomenon

— atul kulkarni (@atul_kulkarni) October 27, 2026

The debate centers on the proposed pumped storage hydropower project in Karjat taluka, near the Bhimashankar area. In response to public concern, the government announced plans to plant 90,000 saplings as compensatory afforestation. Meanwhile, the Forest Department clarified that no illegal tree felling has occurred within the boundaries of the Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Kulkarni’s post underlines the necessity of focusing on long-term survival rates and maintenance rather than raw planting figures. By questioning whether the current policy adequately compensates for deforestation, his statement has brought renewed focus to the environmental safeguards surrounding infrastructure development in Maharashtra.