Pune is surrounded by many hills like Parvati Hill, Chatushringi Hill and Vetal Hill. It is also blessed with many lakes like Pashan, Katraj, Khadakwasla, etc., which add great ecological value.
Nowadays the city is converted into over polluted rapidly expanding mega city. IT and other industries will continue to attract people from elsewhere. This process of development will continue in the future. As a result, green and open areas (agricultural fields) are being converted into residential areas. The current development strategy has to be made more sustainable. The need is to focus attention on restoration and conservation of ecologically sensitive areas in and around the city.
Taking this in consideration, the proposal for reservation of land in merged villages for biodiversity park (BDP) has been passed recently. Now, it has become a stiff challenge for PMC and Punekars protect the open tracks of lands from encroachers. Adequate involvement of people, policy makers and politicians which is most essential for effective management of common resources in the city is shrinking rapidly.
Illegal constructions have been coming up in areas like Anandnagar, Vishrantinagar and Mahadevnagar, which fall under the limits of Hingane Khurd and Wadgaon while slums are coming up in the BDP in other localities. PMC admits that these are temporary measures as they have no permanent mechanism to curb encroachments.
Development of BDP will improve the quality of life in Pune city.
