Mahatma Tekdi, an eco-sensitive hill zone surviving within the Kothrud-Warje hill complex, falls under the biodiversity park (BDP) reservation, which is meant to safeguard the city’s green cover and biodiversity. However, despite these reservations and protections, heavy machinery and excavation activity was underway, and vigilant ecologists and walkers alerted the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), forest department, and police to stop the excavation work.
The regular visitors and walkers on the tekdi approached the PMC and pressured authorities to take action. The excavation activity was reported by ecologist Arnav Gandhe on November 27, and after three days, the PMC took action and halted the construction work.
Gandhe said, “A few days ago, I saw heavy machinery and excavation work going on the tekdi, and this is not the first time such construction and encroachment have happened. This is a recurring issue. As per the guidelines, no construction can be done on the BDP land. Despite repeated complaints, no firm solution is in place. Seeing the excavation and work progress, it is quite evident that this has been going on for more than 10 days. We alerted the civic body, and they took action, but there should be a system in place to regulate and keep a check on such activities taking place.”
“Also, the hill, an urban natural habitat, is the last remaining natural abode. It is a landlocked and isolated hill. It has already been encroached upon over half of its area. There have been numerous constructions on one side of the hill in Warje. Complaints have been filed by many residents, but only temporary solutions and actions are being given. No firm solution has been found for BDP implementation. Only a few hectares of natural hill landscape are surviving; the rest is beyond revival,” added Gandhe.
A regular walker on the tekdi, Shyamala Desai, said, “On November 21, the burning started at Warje Hills, and the construction work was in full swing. I reached out to the additional commissioner of PMC, and he assured us and sent his team to stop the work. We also reached out to the police and forest department officials. Because of encroachments on the hills, the police department assured us that CCTV cameras would be installed and patrolling of the hills would be done via drones. The authorities are supporting us in conserving the biodiversity. But the politicians, in the name of development, are just ruining the eco-sensitive zones.”
Sushama Date, a member of the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS), took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, “The shocking manner in which Pune’s hills are being destroyed. This construction happened just a week ago on Mahatma Tekdi, a BDP-reserved hill. Thanks to a vigilant reporter and the PMC Building Department’s quick action, the work has been stayed. But so much damage has already been done!”
Speaking to The Free Press Journal, a PMC official, on the condition of anonymity, said, “The construction work at the hills has been stopped now. We received complaints from the residents and immediately our team reached the spot and took action. This issue will be raised in the meeting, and a solution can be expected.”
