Residents want 3 projects scrapped to save Vetal hill

Pune: A large number of citizens gathered for the Save Vetal Tekdi walk on Saturday. The organisers of the walk, Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti, estimated that 4,000 people had taken part in the event with the aim of saving Vetal hill from three destructive projects of the Pune Municipal Corporation.The walk commenced from the Vetal Baba Chowk, near Ratna Hospital on the Senapati Bapat Road, and culminated at German Bakery. The three projects the citizens were protesting against are the Balbharati-Paud Phata road, the two tunnels with exits at Panchavati, Sutardara and Gokhalenagar, and the HCMTR-elevated ring road project, two kilometres of which would be aligned on the Law College hill slope. Several political figures, including former BJP MLA Medha Kulkarni, NCP MP Vandana Chavan and other Congress, AAP, MNS, Shiv Sena (UBT) members, also joined the walk. The participants stood on footpaths along the road towards Symbiosis, holding placards in support of the cause. Additionally, a small gathering was held outside the NCC ground chowk.Chavan told TOI: “The tekdis are Pune’s lungs. Moreover, citizens also have an emotional attachment to these hills. The city population is on the rise. However, the open spaces left are corresponding to the growing population. Therefore, the tekdis are of huge importance and must be saved. The three projects are likely to adversely affect the tekdis in many ways, including their biodiversity. We would be raising this issue with the CM and deputy CM in a bid to have these projects scrapped.”Prajakta Divekar, a member of the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti, said: “We have proposed that two objectives be included in the election manifesto of the political figures participating in the walk. First, to declare the Vetal tekdi as a natural heritage site and a “no development-no construction zone” in Pune’s DP. And second is to remove the three projects from the PMC development plan. Almost all of them have agreed to these proposals.”Divekar said the PMC recently completed a year without any elected member serving the civic body. That is why it has been difficult for citizens to approach and deal with the current administration. “Many projects are being given a go-ahead without a general body. We hope elections take place soon so that the citizens’ voices can reach state authorities.”Amit Naikare, a resident of Panchvati participated in the walk along with his family members. “Considering the commuters’ residence and workplace locations, either in Kothrud or in Gokhalenagar, tunnels are not going to reduce distance. This fact is based on data. The distance reduction cited by the PMC is an eyewash. More traffic through the tunnel will also expose residents to toxic vehicular fumes. The three projects are going to adversely affect underground aquifers in the tekdi, apart from the rich biodiversity of the hill,”he said.