India, April 10 -- Nashik is caught in a three-way conflict today - its green cover at the epicentre. As the city with a population of 2.5 million (4.5 million in the district) which is recognised as the wine capital of the country, prepares to host the Simhastha Kumbh Mela -- one of the largest religious gatherings in western India-it is witnessing a clash between faith, government's infra push and citizens' pushback to protect the green cover, which is at risk.

At the heart of the dispute lies the felling of around over 3,000 trees across the city - including banyan, neem, mango and peepal - some of them over 300 years old, to facilitate upgrades.

While the state government has accelerated infrastructure projects worth Rs.35,000 crore...