Pune: Vetal Tekdi Citizens’ Group Urges Candidates To Prioritize Hill Conservation Amid Election Campaign
Pune: Vetal Tekdi Citizens’ Group Urges Candidates To Prioritize Hill Conservation Amid Election Campaign
Pune, November 11, 2024: In response to recent political claims, the Vetal Tekdi Bachao Kruti Samiti (VTBKS) has issued a statement clarifying its stance on the fight to protect Pune’s Tekdis (hill areas). Some candidates have alleged that VTBKS is leveraging the issue for political gain during assembly elections. The group strongly condemns these statements, noting that thousands of Pune residents rallied on April 15, 2023, to demand the removal of development projects threatening the hills from the Development Plan (DP).
VTBKS highlighted statements from former Guardian Minister Chandrakantdada Patil, who claimed that the controversial projects were “halted.” However, Right to Information (RTI) documents accessed since April show continued government action: land surveys have been conducted, and in 2024, the State Government approved modifications to the High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) alignment. The Pune Municipal Commissioner also approved a realignment for the Balbharati-Paud Phata Road in July 2023.
The group reiterated its core demands:
1. Remove three major projects threatening Vetal Tekdi from Pune’s Development Plan: the Balbharati-Paud Phata Road, the HCMTR, and the twin tunnels connecting Panchavati-Sutardhara and Panchavati-Gokhalenagar.
2. Strengthen Pune’s public transport by improving PMPML services, completing the Metro network, and prioritizing last-mile connectivity.
3. Designate Vetal Tekdi and other Pune hill areas as Natural Heritage Sites and No Development Zones to ensure long-term protection.
VTBKS calls on political candidates to make a clear, written commitment to removing these projects from the DP.
Highlighting the long history of public resistance, VTBKS reminded citizens and officials alike that this struggle is not new. In the 1987 DP, the Balbharati-Paud Phata Road was excluded due to citizen efforts. Similar resistance in 2006 halted construction, and in 2013, 30,000 residents voiced opposition to hill roads during the DP 2007-2027 process. In 2015, Planning Committee members recommended the exclusion of road projects and a No Development Zone designation for the hills.
VTBKS pointed out that climate change challenges—rising temperatures, water scarcity, and the essential role of the Tekdis in groundwater recharge and open spaces—make preserving these natural areas crucial for Pune’s future. The group urges politicians to prioritize environmental planning in infrastructure projects and support sustainable public transport solutions.
