Curation Team
PUNE: Over 9,000 residents from the city have signed a petition demanding no construction on hilltop and hill slope zones, and strict enforcement of no-construction policies from a state-appointed committee.
The six-member committee, formed by state govt on April 8 is led by former civic chief Ramanath Jha. It is expected to review the boundary lines of the Biodiversity Park reservation and hill top-hill slope zones while formulating development control regulations (DCR) in Pune and submit its recommendations by May 8.
As part of the drive, led by the group Green Hills Capaign as well as citizens Sushma Date and Ameya Jagtap, a physical signature campaign would be held over the weekend at Vetal Tekdi between 7am and 8am and at Aapla Maruti between 5.30pm and 7pm.
The citizens have demanded that there should be no change in current BDP zoning or permissions for construction and that legal protection must be provided for hills as natural heritage. The group will submit the letter to the committee on April 28.
“Pune’s hills contain valuable urban forests, grassland ecosystems and biodiversity. They are vital buffers against climate change effects. Excavation on these hills will lead to Pune becoming increasingly unlivable. Even allowing 8% construction on hills will cause massive environmental damage,” Date told TOI. “The concern is that all our efforts to protect these hills will be wasted and that the hills will be converted into real estate. Pune’s hills are the lungs and overhead water tanks of the city.”
They also demanded that hills around Pune be kept free from development and protected as BDPs. PMC should take steps to compensate the owners of the land and protect it from encroachments and illegal constructions. The group will also ask the committee to hold govt accountable for the lack of monitoring and enforcement of rules and allow public participation in all future decisions about the hills.
Citizens fear that after notifying 978 hectares of hills as Biodiversity Parks (BDP) in 2015, where no construction was to be allowed, state govt has now set up a new committee to reopen the issue and recommend a fresh policy for the approved development plan by PMC and PMRDA on the hills and biodiversity parks of Pune.
Over a decade ago, in 2011, former Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan, Urban Planner Anita Benninger, and many others started a movement called ‘Save Hills, Save Pune’, rallying against govt’s decision then to allow 4% construction on hills of Pune mentioned in the urban development plan of the city. They sought for hill top-hill slope zones to be protected as BDP reservation, with thousands of citizens supporting the cause, including eminent ecologist Madhav Gadgil.
“Citizens voiced their concerns during the MRTP Act consultations, and the state govt ratified their vision. However, consistent inaction and indifference shown by authorities today is evident. Hills are not just scenic backdrops; they recharge groundwater, act as carbon sinks, and provide the essential ecological balance that makes urban life livable. PMC failed to implement six-monthly satellite monitoring of illegal structures and hold negligent officials accountable, as required. They need to take all of this into account,” Chavan said.
“We’re sending a strong message to state govt’s study group that no construction will be allowed on Hill Top, Hill Slopes, or BDP reservations. We expect our elected representatives and officials to prioritise the public interest, and not builders’ interests,” said Ravindra Sinha, a member of Save Hills, Pune.
Pune: Over 9,000 residents from the city have signed a petition demanding no construction on hilltop and hill slope zones, and strict enforcement of no-construction policies from a state-appointed committee.
The six-member committee, formed by state govt on April 8 is led by former civic chief Ramanath Jha. It is expected to review the boundary lines of the Biodiversity Park reservation and hill top-hill slope zones while formulating development control regulations (DCR) in Pune and submit its recommendations by May 8.
As part of the drive, led by the group Green Hills Capaign as well as citizens Sushma Date and Ameya Jagtap, a physical signature campaign would be held over the weekend at Vetal Tekdi between 7am and 8am and at Aapla Maruti between 5.30pm and 7pm.
The citizens have demanded that there should be no change in current BDP zoning or permissions for construction and that legal protection must be provided for hills as natural heritage. The group will submit the letter to the committee on April 28.
“Pune’s hills contain valuable urban forests, grassland ecosystems and biodiversity. They are vital buffers against climate change effects. Excavation on these hills will lead to Pune becoming increasingly unlivable. Even allowing 8% construction on hills will cause massive environmental damage,” Date told TOI. “The concern is that all our efforts to protect these hills will be wasted and that the hills will be converted into real estate. Pune’s hills are the lungs and overhead water tanks of the city.”
They also demanded that hills around Pune be kept free from development and protected as BDPs. PMC should take steps to compensate the owners of the land and protect it from encroachments and illegal constructions. The group will also ask the committee to hold govt accountable for the lack of monitoring and enforcement of rules and allow public participation in all future decisions about the hills.
Citizens fear that after notifying 978 hectares of hills as Biodiversity Parks (BDP) in 2015, where no construction was to be allowed, state govt has now set up a new committee to reopen the issue and recommend a fresh policy for the approved development plan by PMC and PMRDA on the hills and biodiversity parks of Pune.
Over a decade ago, in 2011, former Rajya Sabha MP Vandana Chavan, Urban Planner Anita Benninger, and many others started a movement called ‘Save Hills, Save Pune’, rallying against govt’s decision then to allow 4% construction on hills of Pune mentioned in the urban development plan of the city. They sought for hill top-hill slope zones to be protected as BDP reservation, with thousands of citizens supporting the cause, including eminent ecologist Madhav Gadgil.
“Citizens voiced their concerns during the MRTP Act consultations, and the state govt ratified their vision. However, consistent inaction and indifference shown by authorities today is evident. Hills are not just scenic backdrops; they recharge groundwater, act as carbon sinks, and provide the essential ecological balance that makes urban life livable. PMC failed to implement six-monthly satellite monitoring of illegal structures and hold negligent officials accountable, as required. They need to take all of this into account,” Chavan said.
“We’re sending a strong message to state govt’s study group that no construction will be allowed on Hill Top, Hill Slopes, or BDP reservations. We expect our elected representatives and officials to prioritise the public interest, and not builders’ interests,” said Ravindra Sinha, a member of Save Hills, Pune.
