Campaign partner:
Green Pune Movement, Ameya Jagtap, Sushma Date
Decision maker:
1. Government of Maharashtra
2. Pune Municipal Corporation
3. Ramanath Jha, Chairman, Committee on BDP and HTHS Pune
Demands:
No construction on hills and slopes along with strict enforcement of no-construction zones
No change in current BDP zoning or permissions for construction
Provide legal protection for hills as natural heritage
Timely compensation for private landowners under the BDP scheme
Hold the government accountable for lack of monitoring and enforcement of rules
Allow public participation in all future decisions about the hills
The lush green hills of Pune are under threat, yet again!
For context, in 2006, 23 surrounding villages were merged within the PMC limit. These contained many hills, including Mahatma tekdi, Sus, Pashan, Aundh, and Baner tekdis where partial to full construction was permitted. Following this, there was a huge agitation by citizens to prevent any construction on these hill tops and hill slopes.
Then, in 2015, the Maharashtra Government notified 978 hectares of hills as Biodiversity Parks (BDP), where no construction was to be allowed. But now, a new committee has been set up 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. This could be the first step toward handing over our city’s lungs to real estate developers – a move that will spell disaster for Pune! The committee has to submit recommendations to the government by May 8, 2025. This could be our last chance to save Pune’s hills from real estate.
Despite protections, illegal construction has continued relentlessly for years. The PMC has failed to monitor these ecologically sensitive areas, allowing violations to go unchecked. Meanwhile, citizen groups have worked tirelessly to green these hills over the last 10 years.
These hills are the lifeline of Pune, they act as climate buffer zones, foster diverse flora and fauna, and are water recharge zones. We cannot afford to lose these to unplanned construction.
Even allowing 8% construction on hills will cause massive environmental damage as supporting infrastructure will require deeper excavation. This could irreversibly damage fragile ecosystems, cause soil erosion and disrupt groundwater recharge zones.
We are demanding that the hills around Pune be kept free from development and protected as Biodiversity Parks (BDPs). PMC should take steps to compensate the owners of the land, and to protect it from encroachments and illegal constructions.
We need to gather as many signatures as possible by April 27th. A joint representation will be made on April 28th, 2025 to submit these signatures to the committee.
Campaign partner:
Green Pune Movement, Ameya Jagtap, Sushma Date
Decision maker:
1. Government of Maharashtra
2. Pune Municipal Corporation
3. Ramanath Jha, Chairman, Committee on BDP and HTHS Pune
Demands:
No construction on hills and slopes along with strict enforcement of no-construction zones
No change in current BDP zoning or permissions for construction
Provide legal protection for hills as natural heritage
Timely compensation for private landowners under the BDP scheme
Hold the government accountable for lack of monitoring and enforcement of rules
Allow public participation in all future decisions about the hills
The lush green hills of Pune are under threat, yet again!
For context, in 2006, 23 surrounding villages were merged within the PMC limit. These contained many hills, including Mahatma tekdi, Sus, Pashan, Aundh, and Baner tekdis where partial to full construction was permitted. Following this, there was a huge agitation by citizens to prevent any construction on these hill tops and hill slopes.
Then, in 2015, the Maharashtra Government notified 978 hectares of hills as Biodiversity Parks (BDP), where no construction was to be allowed. But now, a new committee has been set up 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. This could be the first step toward handing over our city’s lungs to real estate developers – a move that will spell disaster for Pune! The committee has to submit recommendations to the government by May 8, 2025. This could be our last chance to save Pune’s hills from real estate.
Despite protections, illegal construction has continued relentlessly for years. The PMC has failed to monitor these ecologically sensitive areas, allowing violations to go unchecked. Meanwhile, citizen groups have worked tirelessly to green these hills over the last 10 years.
These hills are the lifeline of Pune, they act as climate buffer zones, foster diverse flora and fauna, and are water recharge zones. We cannot afford to lose these to unplanned construction.
Even allowing 8% construction on hills will cause massive environmental damage as supporting infrastructure will require deeper excavation. This could irreversibly damage fragile ecosystems, cause soil erosion and disrupt groundwater recharge zones.
We are demanding that the hills around Pune be kept free from development and protected as Biodiversity Parks (BDPs). PMC should take steps to compensate the owners of the land, and to protect it from encroachments and illegal constructions.
We need to gather as many signatures as possible by April 27th. A joint representation will be made on April 28th, 2025 to submit these signatures to the committee.