PUNE: A signature campaign was held at Pashan hill on Sus Road recently to protest against the beautification of the hill. It received over 1,000 signatures within two hours. Corporator Amol Balwadkar and MP Vandana Chavan participated in the campaign and assured that no further concretisation would take place around the hill.
The campaign was organised by the Pashan Baner Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti. Citizens from Baner, Pashan, Sus, Balewadi, Aundh and Someshwarwadi participated in this campaign. In February last, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had begun work on a concrete road, a cycle track and an open gym on the hill. Despite appeals from citizens of the area to stop the project, the work continued.
Ravindra Sinha, the convenor of Mission Groundwater said, “We are fearing that Pashan hill will suffer from the same fate as the Taljai Hill. Therefore, the signature campaign has been organised.”
“We will submit the signature letter to the PMC soon and request the municipal commissioner that all Biodiversity Parks (BDPs) must be protected. A group of corporators, as well as citizens, should be formed to plan out activities for the protection and conservation of the hills in the city. Over the last one week, over 4,000 people has signed, the letter,” Sinha added.
Balwadkar said, “Henceforth, concretisation work will not be carried out at the hill. We will also speak with the commissioner to stop all concretisation activity at the hill.”
Chavan said, “There should be a committee of corporators of those specific areas, wherever there are BDP hills to ensure that the hills are protected.”
