Afforestation at Baner Hills helps Pashan and Baner hills minimize the damage from the recent cloud burst
Afforestation at Baner Hills helps Pashan and Baner hills minimize the damage from the recent cloud burst
Akash Dhanurkar ——————————————————————————–
Vasundhara Abhiyan and Baner environment activists initiated afforestation project comes to the help of the residents of Pashan and Baner in minimising the damage in the recently caused cloud bursts which hampered many hills around the city.
In 2009 and 2019, Baner and Pashan had witnessed uncontrollable devastation due to flood, which even caused fatal incidents. However, the growing concretization was said to be the main factor behind the devastation caused. But setting an example by minimizing the flooding of water on the streets of Baner and Pashan against the 120 mm rainfall received on Wednesday, the Baner Pashan based NGO, Vasundhara Abhiyan, proved that natural disasters can be minimized through natural means. The NGO has initiated an idea of afforestation at the Baner hills, which came as a big relief to the residents. This time when the streets and the areas of Kothrud and Katraj were flooded, the Baner and Pashan seemed in control because of the initiative carried out by the NGO since the past fifteen years.
For the past fifteen years, the Vasundhara Abhiyan NGO, has been raising awareness for afforestation. This important initiative by the group highlights water and soil conservation. Small checks of water dams have been created at the hill, which reserves the rain water and thus it disrupts downward rain water flow.
Upon talking to Deepak Shrote, a part of the Toxin-Free Food Movement and one of the volunteers and members of the group, Deepak Shrote said, “Only citizens can save themselves. Be Alert & Active like these people from Baner-Pashan in Pune. They increased Green Cover & biodiversity on Baner-Pashan Hill. Since the last 15 years working we have been continuously towards Afforestation, soil and water conservation. They stood firmly & protected the hill from clutches of Concretization & Destruction in the name of Beautification & Development.”
He further continued, “Impact of this reflected on 14th Oct 2020. While the entire Pune city was impacted and affected due to heavy rain, most of roads converted into rivulets but at the same time though it rained heavily, around 120 mm rainfall within 24 hours but Baner-Pashan area especially surrounding hill of 4km remain unaffected and safe. This shows that such models need to be replicated all over the country and water bodies, nullhas, rivers and hills need to be freed from encroachments and not to be touched in future for any reason.”
