22.6.08

The Greening of Pune

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken various steps to restore local flora and fauna and to encourage soil and water conservation in different parts of the city.The civic body has acquired land from various bodies, both government and private for development of forest and biodiversity parks. It has also carried out plantations along rivers and lakes under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) programme.PMC organised a tour to the sites including Pashan lake, Katraj Lake, Tarzai and Panchgaon Parvati, where plantations have begun. The tour included PMC chief Pravinsinh Pardeshi, members of NGOs like Kalpavriksha and Green Hills Group, members of the Pune Builders Association, noted industrialists and people from the press. Pardeshi planted trees at these sites.The tour ended at the P L Deshpande Udyan where a presentation on ‘Greening of Pune’ was made informing initiatives by PMC and future plans to develop palm parks, a Moghul Garden and parks in fringe villages.
After citizens and NGOs, it’s the turn of corporate houses to lend support to municipal corporation’s “Greening of Pune” initiative. Among the first in the lot, Pradeep Bhargava, chairman of Maharashtra council of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), promised to contribute in maintaining greenery of the city.Explaining how the citizens can contribute in the entire campaign, municipal commissioner Pravinsinh Pardeshi said the civic body did not lack funds nor is it difficult to plant saplings. “The crucial part, however, is to maintain and protect the green areas. We want groups to adopt different areas and take up the responsibility of protection trees here to ensure that there is no encroachment and the trees survive. It would be something like an area sponsorship programme,” he added. Pardeshi appreciated the work already being done by some groups like ‘earth cleanliness’ drive and Green Hills group, who have been undertaking plantation on Chatushringi hills, Tukai hill and Hanuman Tekdi. Speaking at the meeting, Bhargava said there are a lot of companies who want to contribute to the campaign. “It is our duty to offer products and services that are environmentfriendly. But before being a part of the industry, we are a part of the civil society. I would arrange a meeting of the PMC officials and representatives of companies so that a proper action plan can be chalked out to actively participate in the campaign,” he said.
The Kalpavriksha environment action group and Pune Tree Watch have kicked off a signature campaign to save 190 trees along Maneckji Mehta Road and Coyaji road that the Pune Cantonment Board has proposed to cut. The group has written a letter to the PCB to reconsider the proposal. The letter states that most of the trees are old and have a wonderful canopy, which makes them a rarity and worthy of preservation.
Applauding the civic body’s effort, Dharia said that everybody should take up the responsibility of greening the city. During the visit, garden department head explained that the Pashan lake is being developed as a wetland forest and a bird island would also be developed with pathways around the lake.
The Muredha Nullah Project:The Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) has received an approval for allocation of Rs 1.30 crore as funds towards the completion of Muredha Nullah Park Project. The PCB says that the work on the third phase of this park will commence soon.Chief executive officer (CEO) of PCB S. K. Sardana pointed out that landscaping and laying of footpaths will be carried out along with other beautification works. “The lake is in its first phase and that will also be completed using these funds,” he added. The PCB is building a nullah park at the Muredha junction around the four-km long stretch. The first two phases have already been completed. The total expenses for the project are estimated to be around Rs 3 crore, out of which Rs 1.7 crore has already been given. He pointed out that once completed, the park will have 1.5-metre-wide walking track and 3-metre-wide jogging track of Shahabad stones on both sides of the nullah. The nullah will be channelised for its entire length and it will also have 140 illumination poles, three waterfalls, nine cascades, seven gates, a fish pond, a butterfly garden, snack joints and a herbal and medicinal plant garden.

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