Pune: Increased Vigilance At Bhimashankar Sanctuary Ahead Of Shravan Festival
Bhimashankar, an ancient shrine nestled in the Sahyadri Hills, is home to one of the twelve revered Jyotirlingas in India. As the holy month of ‘Shravan’ approaches, the forest department has intensified its vigilance at the Bhimashankar Sanctuary. Starting August 5, thousands of devotees are expected to visit the area, prompting increased measures to ensure waste management and tourist safety, officials said.
Tushar Chavan, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) for the Pune division, highlighted the preparations underway. “We have started preparations and will keep our staff ready. While the temple management responsibility is primarily with the temple trust, the forest department has responsibilities to manage the surrounding area and the sanctuary,” Chavan explained. The dense forest and numerous waterfalls surrounding the temple necessitate these heightened precautions.
“Our main focus will be people’s safety as well as waste management, and we have deployed additional staff for this,” Chavan added. The forest department’s plan includes 10 teams of forest staff and local volunteers. Six teams will focus on waste and other management issues, while four will concentrate on tourist safety.
Vasant Chavan, Range Forest Officer of Bhimashankar Sanctuary, elaborated on the initiatives in place. “Just like last year, this year too we will be deploying 10 teams including forest staff as well as local volunteers. Among which, six teams will be working on waste and other management issues and four will be working on tourist safety,” he said.
Additionally, this year, visitors will have the opportunity to see Mahadev Van, a newly inaugurated attraction by the Pune forest department. This recent addition aims to enhance the spiritual and natural experience for the devotees and tourists alike.
