PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE TEKDI

PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE TEKDI

Started
3 October 2014
Petition to
Chief Conservator of Forests and 3 others
Petition Closed
This petition had 2,090 supporters

Why this petition matters

Started by Parth Lawate

The Vetal tekdi is one of the last natural habitats left in the heart of a rapidly growing city. Its value in terms of the health of our citizens is immeasurable, not just for now but for future generations to come.

The Joint Forest Committee has proposed to begin large scale development of what it calls an eco-park on the Vetal and Taljai tekdis. This will bring in construction material, vehicles, roads, pipelines, sewage disposal schemes, ferro-concrete gazebos, and carry the very real risk of converting this pristine natural wilderness into yet another artificial and problematic city park. 

The following items appear particularly damaging to the tekdi's natural habitat -

  1. Three ferro-concrete gazebos (at the quarry top, Aapla maruti and Police Staff quarters section of hill). Ferrocrete, mentioned as a preferred building material, is nothing but re-enforced concrete and we see no benefits to adding more concrete on the hills

  2. Toilets at various points which will involve pipelines, drainage lines and sewage disposal units. They will also require regular cleaning and maintenance to prevent foul odors.

  3. “Medicinal Groves” and “Data Interpretation Centers” on the tekdi. This concept has earlier failed at places like Bhimashankar and is better developed in the Botanical gardens around Pune

  4. Any interference in the natural ecology of the quarry on Vetal Tekdi which is home to several species of migratory birds.

  5. Setting up of “eco-trails” by gabonning of the sides with boulders

All the above mentioned items will require access to trucks plying construction material – which risks converting the smaller paths into large tracks and carries a further risk of large-scale pollution during the construction phase and beyond.

We, the undersigned citizens of Pune are not in favor of any such activity on the hills and would like them to be left alone and not be denuded by the mis-directed efforts of the PMC and the Joint Forest Committee.

We request the Forest Department to take necessary steps to save the ecology of the hills by scrapping these so called “beautification” plans.

Many experts including Dr. Madhav Gadgil and Dr. Satish Pande, who possess immaculate credentials in undertaking such work, are living in the city itself. They need to be consulted on the advisability of any kind of construction on Vetal and Taljai tekdis. 

Petition Closed

This petition had 2,090 supporters

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Decision Makers

  • Chief Conservator of Forests
  • Divisional Forest Officer
  • P.S. Prakash Javdekar
  • P.S. Prakash Javdekar