Pune: Environmental activists and public representatives in Pune, including Member of Parliament Vandana Chavan, have joined forces to address concerns regarding illegal encroachments within the city’s biodiversity park (BDP) zone. In a recent meeting with Pune’s Municipal Commissioner, Vikram Kumar, activists raised their voices in favor of protecting and preserving this vital natural space.
The meeting, attended by Vandana Chavan, prominent green activist Aneeta Gokhale-Benninger, and Nitin Kadam, who heads the urban cell of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), served as a platform for discussing various issues related to the BDP zone. Among the topics covered were strategies to safeguard this ecological treasure and ensure its long-term well-being.
One of the key demands put forth by the activists was the need for a comprehensive survey and mapping of the BDP zone. They stressed the importance of identifying government-owned areas within the reservation, as well as cataloging private ownership of land within the zone. This meticulous record-keeping is seen as essential to the protection of the park’s biodiversity.
Additionally, the activists advocated for the responsible development of government-owned land within the BDP zone. This approach aims to preserve the natural green spaces within the park while addressing the complex issues surrounding privately owned land, including land acquisition and compensation matters.
Vandana Chavan emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We have requested the civic chief to arrange for high-resolution satellite images to gain a better understanding of the current status of the BDP zone. Additionally, we have urged the authorities to officially record the BDP reservation on the 7/12 land extract to prevent illegal property sales.”
Regarding compensation for private landowners, Chavan noted, “The Jain committee had previously proposed offering green Transferable Development Rights (TDR) as compensation to private landowners, but both the state government and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have not implemented this recommendation. Therefore, we call upon the administration to take immediate action to acquire land within the reserved area.”
The meeting between activists and city officials serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to protect Pune’s biodiversity park and ensure that it remains a thriving natural haven for generations to come.
