Eco-Friendly Tourism Boost for Pune’s Forest Areas: Collector Jitendra Dudi Calls for Sustainable Development at Popular Sites
Pune, 29th July 2025: Highlighting Pune district’s immense potential for forest-based tourism, District Collector Jitendra Dudi has directed officials to draw up a comprehensive and environmentally sustainable development plan for major tourist spots such as Rajgad Fort, various mountain passes (ghats), waterfalls, and hill areas within Pune and Junnar forest divisions.
Chairing a review meeting on Eco-Tourism Development under the District Annual Plan held at the Pune Collectorate, Dudi emphasized the importance of preserving natural landscapes while enhancing tourist amenities.
“Sites like Rajgad, Naneghat, and Amboli hold incredible tourism potential. If developed carefully using eco-sensitive designs and local materials like stone, mud, and wood — instead of cement or concrete — these areas can become model destinations,” said Collector Dudi.
Key Directives Issued:
Create stone benches, eco-toilets, wooden barricades, and informational signage at key tourist locations.
Develop small access roads with stone steps where needed.
Avoid non-environmental construction materials such as concrete.
Obtain no-objection certificates from the Archaeological Survey of India for projects near protected monuments.
Leverage the potential UNESCO recognition of Rajgad Fort to secure additional state funding.
The meeting was attended by:
Mahadev Mohite (Deputy Conservator of Forests, Pune Division)
Prashant Khade (Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junnar Division)
Kiran Indalkar (District Planning Officer)
Jayshree Pawar (Assistant Conservator of Forests, Wildlife)
Dr. Vilas Wahane (Asst. Director, Archaeology Department)
Milind Barbhae (Executive Engineer, PWD)
A presentation was made by the Eco-Tourism Consultant Team on planned works at popular destinations including Naneghat, Daryaghat, Amboli, Kanchan and Kalu Falls, Dhuranli Falls, Durgewadi Kokankada, Bhiwegav Khedkund, Kundeshwar Nature Park, Shingeshwar Temple Hill, Bhamchandra Dongar, Tukai Mata Temple, Aranyeshwar Mandir, and Shirur Oxygen Park.
Eco-tourism NGOs and stakeholders also offered suggestions, which the district administration assured would be incorporated into the final master plan.
Collector Dudi concluded the meeting with a call for balanced development, saying, “We must boost tourism without compromising the ecological integrity of our forests. Sustainable development is the way forward.”
