In response to the recent viral video highlighting the safety concerns at Vetal Hill, the Pune forest department has taken decisive action by appointing five Urban Joint Forest Management Committees (UJFMC) in the city. These committees, comprising residents, NGO volunteers, forest officials, and potential ward members, aim to regulate and manage forest areas on hills, fostering a collaborative approach to urban forest safety.
The move comes after a meeting held on March 4, attended by Mahadev Mohite, Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune Forest Division, and other officials. The meeting addressed the pressing need to regulate entries to urban forest areas, particularly in the wake of recent incidents. The forest department recognized the importance of involving citizens and nature enthusiasts in the process, leading to the establishment of UJFMCs.
Mahadev Mohite emphasized the intention to finalize regulatory norms for hills through collaboration between the committees and the forest department. He stated, “People participation and local representation have proven effective in managing sensitive locations, and we aim to implement a similar pattern for urban forest areas under the city’s jurisdiction.”
The committees, responsible for areas including Hanuman, Taljai, Vetal, Wanowrie, and Bavdhan, will play a pivotal role in managing urban forest spaces. This includes establishing entry and visitation norms, addressing nuisance complaints, and collecting entry fees to fund essential management activities such as patrolling and safety equipment procurement.
As the municipal elections are pending in Pune, the committees will be restructured to include representation from wards, ensuring a more comprehensive and localized approach to urban forest management.
