Pune Citizens Unite For Save Vetal Tekdi Walk Today To Protest Destructive Projects
Pune, 15th April 2023: Vetal Tekdi, an urban forest and prominent hill, that serves as the city’s most important buffer against the effects of climate change, is under threat from three proposed projects by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
In response, the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti, an apolitical group of concerned citizens, has organized a Save Vetal Tekdi walk today and is calling on the PMC and political representatives to scrap the projects and declare the area a Natural Heritage Site and No Development No-Construction zone.
The three proposed projects include the Balbharati-Paud Phata road across Law College hill slope, two tunnels with exits at Panchavati, Sutardara, and Gokhalenagar, and the HCMTR – elevated ring road of which 2 km is aligned on Law College hill slope. The Samiti argues that these projects will not alleviate traffic concerns, and will destroy the precious biodiversity of the area, worsen air quality, and reduce ground water recharge.
Urban forests like Vetal Tekdi provide numerous benefits, including carbon sequestration, mitigation of the ‘urban heat island’ effect, and provision of green space for physical exercise and psychological well-being. The Samiti has called for the PMC to strengthen public transport by increasing frequency and connectivity of PMPML bus routes during peak hours instead of spending money on roads and tunnels.
Despite repeated requests, the PMC Commissioner has not published any of the reports pertaining to these projects on the PMC website, nor has any public consultation been held for the Balbharati Paud Phata road, eroding citizens’ trust in the PMC’s decision-making process. With no elected body in the PMC for more than a year, the Samiti argues that it is shocking to see how controversial projects are being rammed through without any political accountability.
The Save Vetal Tekdi walk will begin at 5 pm, starting at Vetal Baba chowk (near Ratna Hospital) on Senapati Bapat road and ending at German Bakery.
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