Pune : Forest Land in Wanowrie and Ramtekdi Faces Degradation Due to Lack of Attention And Chronic Garbage Dumping 

The forest land stretching across Wanowrie and Ramtekdi is rapidly degrading due to frequent trespassing. This is primarily due to the absence of any boundary walls to safeguard it. Immediate action is necessary to prevent further damage to the forest.

Residents enter the forest daily to dispose of various items like old couches, mattresses, and garbage, leading to environmental damage.

Concerns were raised by local residents regarding people entering the forest at night for drinking and merrymaking, as evidenced by the collection of around 30 large bags of alcohol bottles and the destruction of approximately 50 trees due to Five man-made fires this year alone.

Residents have highlighted that forest fires have occurred due to careless disposal of cigarette butts. Lack of boundary walls exacerbates the problem.

The local residents have been coordinating with the foundation and have submitted a proposal to the forest department to erect boundary walls to prevent trespassing and vehicle entry. Ashutosh Shinde, Assistant Conservator of Forest, stated, “We have initiated the process of creating boundary walls across 25 spots in the urban forest.”

A resident of Cloud 9 complained that the forest boundaries are filthy too. The bastis around the forest often dump the wahting ste. 

Another resident from Azad Nagar has been highlighting the negligence  of PMC over the garbage disposal in the area. He said that there are areas around the forest which are for years. There is no system for pick up of waste in the area and hence people often dump it around the forest area making it unhealthy and threatening to the biodiversity of the forest. PMC has failed miserably here in streamlining the efforts of pick up of waste.