Hills are city's soul, protect biodiveristy park reservations, demand citizens
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Pune's
hills
are a treasured resource of biodiversity amid a rapidly developing concrete jungle. These green lungs play home to a host of living species, as well as aquifers that form a vital repository of groundwater for a large surrounding population. The hills are also key for carbon sequestration, ensuring the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere before it contributes to the greenhouse effect and global warming.
But today,
citizens
say these hills are under threat. They have pointed out that a govt committee — set up to evaluate if hill areas protected by law can be opened up for construction — lacks the presence of environmental scientists, ecologists, and biodiversity experts.
Residents said this absence makes the study group ineffective in addressing complex ecological issues, and demanded cancellation of the panel, while pushing for continued reservation of areas marked as 'biodiversity parks (BDP)'
What is the BDP committee?
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State govt has set up a six-member committee to re-examine hilltop and hillslope zones, as well as areas reserved as BDP within Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pune Metropolitan Regional Development Authority's (PMRDA) limits. BDP reservations were originally listed out in the development plans (DPs) of respective civic bodies.
According to a govt resolution (GR) in April this year, the decision to form a committee was taken after govt received multiple requests that construction be permitted in such areas.
The 'Jha Committee' is chaired by former IAS Rakesh Jha and includes the PMC commissioner, PMRDA metropolitan commissioner, joint director of city planning in Pune, PMC city engineer and deputy director of urban design at Pune's urban research unit.
Member and PMC city engineer Prashant Waghmare told TOI, "We have had two meetings as of now, but the matter to go over is vast. We have asked for an extension of two months and are awaiting state govt's approval for the same."
What are citizens demanding?
The residents' demand is straightforward — they want green spaces protected at any cost.
The hilltop and hillslope zones as well as BDP reservations are for eco-sensitive areas that support flora and fauna, include contiguous forest land and wildlife corridors, and house biodiversity heritage sites, many of which are part of the Unesco-protected Western Ghats.
"Environmental considerations should take priority in any planning for these areas," said Ravindra Sinha, convenor of the Baner Pashan Link Road Residents' Welfare group.
Citizens feel the current reservation on the hills must remain untouched and no percentage of construction should be allowed. "There has to be a certain percentage of open space per capita. Construction on hills will increase densification of the city," said advocate Madhavi Rahitkar, adding, "The reservation on hills is a part of a 2011 DP approved by state govt so it is a legal reservation and must not be de-reserved for petty reasons or for benefits of a particular lobby. If every inch of land is constructed upon, it is going to be a challenge. Any city needs open spaces to provide fresh air and improve ecological balance. While planning cities, money cannot be the only consideration."
"The BDP reservation safeguards Pune's iconic green hills — a lifeline that gives us clean air and cooler temperatures. With increasing pollution, the growing impact of climate change, and unchecked pace of urbanisation, we are at a tipping point. Replacing forests with concrete would irreversibly damage the delicate ecosystem of the hills. Protecting these hills was a commitment made by state govt to Punekars. They must stand by it. Without its hills, Pune will lose its soul," said environmental activist and core-member of Green Pune Movement, Ameya Jagtap.
History
The movement to protect the areas marked under BDP reservation in Pune began in 2011, when citizens got together to rally against govt's decision to allow 4% construction on the hilltops and hillslopes mentioned in the urban DP. This drew attention to the need to protect the city's precious green lungs.
"Back in 2011, no one was even talking about climate change. Our effort was just about protecting green spaces. Today, the need to protect them is more urgent. Pune is already witnessing a heatwave, and more construction will just make matters worse," said Ameya Jagtap, who has been mobilising the youth to protect the hills.
Later, in 2015, the BDP reservations as marked in the DP were approved; in 2018, the Jain Committee set the rate of compensation to private landowners at 8% TDR if they gave up land marked under BDP reservation to govt; 10% if they did so within a year.
The plan was that govt would purchase land from these private owners in return for compensation to protect these spaces. However, this did not happen, said activists.
"After the initial decision to protect these spaces, govt had to monitor them via satellite imaging to curb illegal encroachments. This was not done. Anti-encroachment squads were also to be put in place. Govt has failed to implement laws. Even the committee set up today has no experts, so there is no guarantee that the ecological loss to the city will be correctly accounted for," former MP Vandana Chavan told TOI. She is one of the individuals spearheading the cause, along with urban planner Anita Gokhale Benninger and other activists. A consolidated citizens' group under the umbrella of Green Pune Movement has been leading the charge against de-reservation of BDP for the last 14 years.
Gokhale Benninger said, "Govt must implement the law it approved itself in 2015. A 60:40 ratio must be maintained when planning a city — 40% natural environment and 60% built environment (which includes green spaces, too). Destroying this balance is dangerous."
If construction is allowed on hills, there will be:
1. Loss of green cover, biodiversity
2. More construction means more concrete, which means higher temperatures
3. Loss of natural aquifers — a major water source
4. Construction and buildings require civic amenities like electricity, water and drainage, for which pipes will have to be laid and digging will become a constant
5. Loss of Pune's unique character
___________________________
Expert Quotes
National policy states that 60% of any hilly area must be covered in vegetation and trees. The notion that forests and wildlife should be confined to protected areas is unacceptable. Pune is on the fringe of the Western Ghats and so, its greenery must be protected. However, that has not happened till date. The ARAI building on Vetal tekdi was built on reserve forest land; a large-scale building in Dhayari can also be seen on a hilltop. It is unacceptable. The hills are weakening and becoming fragile due to construction. The heat we are experiencing today is due to such unabated construction. Local changes in hilly landscape alongside climate change will only worsen things — Madhav Gadgil | Ecologist
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There is no reason for concern in the reserve forest patches of the hills in Pune, as those cannot be claimed for construction. We can always stop any illegal activity occurring there. However, not everything green in Pune is a forest. What citizens must be concerned about are the areas not protected under forests. We do not have a say in suggesting or managing those areas. Such spaces can succumb to rampant construction — Senior forest official
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Govt should take proactive steps to protect green spaces in Pune, rather than go back on assurances they have already made. Every DP prepared for the city focuses on preservation of green spaces. We have fought for the hills — the lungs of our city — to remain untouched and we will continue to do so. While govt is stating that they have received letters for construction, these are not available for public scrutiny. So, it is difficult to verify. We are already witnessing temperatures as high as 43°C so early in summer — if green spaces that help control this are lost, the city will only get hotter — Vandana Chavan | Former MP and Former Mayor of Pune
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The BDP reservation safeguards a lifeline that gives us clean air, cooler temperatures, and a healthier lifestyle. We are at a tipping point. Replacing forests with concrete would irreversibly damage the delicate ecosystem of the hills. Protecting these hills was a commitment made by state govt. They must stand by it. Without its green hills, Pune will lose its soul — Ameya Jagtap | Environmental Activist and Core-member of Green Pune Movement
-Inputs by Aditi Shekar
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