Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Wednesday called for a conciliatory approach to resolve the issue of tree felling in Nashik city for Kumbh Mela, saying that maintaining environmental balance is as important as development, reported news agency PTI.

Civil society members are up in arms against the Nashik civic body's reported plan to cut down more than 1700 trees in the Tapovan area to build a 'Sadhu Gram' for the visiting religious leaders ahead of Kumbh Mela which will begin in October 2026, reported PTI.