Pune: Empress Botanical Garden Faces Land Acquisition Threat; Environmentalists Raise Alarm
Pune: Empress Botanical Garden Faces Land Acquisition Threat; Environmentalists Raise Alarm
Pune, March 27, 2026: The historic Empress Botanical Garden, regarded as one of the city’s most significant environmental and heritage assets, is facing a serious threat following a government proposal to acquire nearly one acre of its land for judicial infrastructure. The move has triggered strong opposition from the Agro-Horticultural Society of Western India, which has managed and preserved the garden since 1892.
Coercive Approach Raises Legal Concerns
The institution has alleged that despite repeated protests, representations, and peaceful demonstrations, the government is proceeding with the land transfer in a coercive manner. According to the society, such action undermines the autonomy and rights of an organization dedicated to environmental conservation for over a century.
Threat to Biodiversity and Green Cover
The proposed land parcel has been developed with the vision of creating a biodiversity park, with hundreds of trees already planted. Environmentalists warn that diverting this land for construction could irreversibly damage the ecosystem and lead to the loss of vital green cover in the heart of Pune. The potential destruction of this green zone is expected to have long-term consequences on the city’s already stressed environment.
Heritage Preservation at Stake
Maintained for over 134 years without any government funding, the Empress Botanical Garden stands as a symbol of community-driven conservation. The Agro-Horticultural Society has emphasized that the garden has been sustained through public participation and its own resources, making it a rare example of self-reliant heritage preservation.
While reaffirming its commitment to continue safeguarding the garden, the institution has appealed to the government to reconsider the proposal and avoid compromising a legacy that holds immense ecological and historical significance.
Call for Public Support
Citizens, environmental groups, and conservationists across Pune have been urged to come forward and support efforts to protect what is often described as the “lungs of the city.”
The appeal has been jointly issued by Pratap Pawar, President, and Suresh Pingale, Honorary Secretary of the Agro-Horticultural Society of Western India.
