The Ganeshkhind Botanical Garden in Pune,  the only designated biodiversity heritage site in Pune amongst 44 nationwide, is under severe threat. The government plans to delist it and convert it into a sewage treatment plant, putting centuries of history, ecological wealth, and public health at risk. Suitable sites for such a facility already exist, yet the authorities continue to ignore them. A 300-year-old heritage, once destroyed, can never be rebuilt. This is the wrong place for a sewage treatment plant. Moreover, the garden actively helps purify river water polluted with organic and inorganic waste, making it vital for the health of the ecosystem & public health. We urge the authorities to protect this irreplaceable heritage and identify an appropriate alternative location.

This is not just any patch of land. The garden is a living testament to our heritage, with most trees planted centuries ago by the Peshwas in the pre-British era and by scientists, and horticulturists later. These trees and the rich biodiversity around them are irreplaceable. There are 4590 trees , 610 germplasms, 27 fruit varieties and orchards. The garden is part of Pune’s green capital, and our ecosystem depends on it. The plants here have roots going to rivers, they naturally filter and purify the Mula-Mutha River, supporting clean water, maintaining soil health, and sustaining local wildlife.

The recurrent floods and landslides in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir. Extreme floods in  Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Maharashtra and several other regions underscore the critical need for green cover to stabilize the environment. The loss of precious lives and crores of rupees in damages cannot even begin to justify the short-term profits gained from environmental destruction. Still we continue to ignore this. Why?

Despite the existence of other viable lands, the government is targeting this priceless green space for profit & short-term infrastructure gains, ignoring the catastrophic ecological, historical, and social consequences. Sewage treatment plants across India have often failed or caused long-term environmental harm, yet we are ready to sacrifice 300 years of biodiversity and heritage for a solution that may not even work.

We urge the authorities to protect and preserve the Ganeshkhind Botanical Garden, honour the foresight of our ancestors, safeguard our environment, and prioritize sustainable urban planning over profit. Our heritage, health, and the Mula-Mutha River cannot wait.

Request you to please sign this petition if you believe that heritage and biodiversity are more valuable than short-sighted development which robs us of life, heritage and our kids' future. Let us protect Ganeshkhind Botanical Garden for Pune, for India, and for future generations.