Pune: Environmentalists Demand ‘Ladke Dongar’ Scheme to Safeguard Sahyadri Mountains

21 August 2024

Environment advocates in Pune have called for the creation and implementation of the ‘Ladke Dongar’ scheme to conserve the hills in the area. They report that unauthorized leveling is taking place at the rear of Taljai hill in the Hingne region. In light of this, they urge the Pune Municipal Corporation and the Forest Department to take prompt action to prevent accidents. To avoid a recurrence of the tragedy that occurred in Wayanad, the ‘Ladke Dongar’ scheme should be introduced similarly to the ‘Ladki Bahin’ initiative.

Environmentalist Anant Gharat has sent a letter to Pune Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, urging the protection of the entire Sahyadri mountain range that borders Pune. Anant Gharat, an environmentalist, stated, “Every hill in Pune, including Vetal Tekdi, must be conserved and protected. For this reason, I have written to Deputy CM of Maharashtra Ajit Pawar, along with the PMC, requesting effective measures to prevent the destruction of hills.”

Anant Gharat also sent a letter to Pune Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar, highlighting that “Hingne Khurd is part of the bio-vulnerable zone, and unauthorized logging of the mountain adjacent to the Taljai Pachgaon forest area is still ongoing. As an environmentalist, I continue to raise complaints regularly. Despite these complaints, the damage to the mountain persists. We urge you to implement the ‘Ladke Dongar’ scheme similar to the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme to protect the people of Pune, the environment, and the Sahyadri mountains, which ultimately benefit Pune city.”