Vetal tekdi is under threat again!

Law College, Pune is constructing  3 tennis courts, 2 football grounds as well as changing rooms on top of Vetal tekdi,  overriding opposition from Punekars who want this hill to remain a pristine green space. Four years ago, the institute built a wall around an open space at the top, purportedly to claim ownership of this land. They have now put up notices that they will be building tennis courts here. Construction work has started. 

Will it stop there? There might soon be a pavilion, kit rooms, a canteen, toilets and then inevitably, hawkers and stalls, as happened on Taljai tekdi. Do we want that?

Survey no. 49-53, Plot 97 on Vetal tekdi may officially belong to Indian Law Society, but the tekdi itself, the grasslands and forests on it and the precious aquifers it contains benefits all Punekars – and we all have a stake in preserving this tekdi as a Natural Heritage site for future generations.

It is indeed ironic that an educational institute that professes to value the environment is engaged in destroying this precious heritage.

To the Municipal Commissioner, Pune we would like to submit that Survey 49-53 is part of Hill Top Hill Slope zone, hence, as per DC rules 2017, all construction activity is banned.  “Hill environment and Biodiversity" is one of the 10 attributes in your Strategic Environment Assessment Report during the Revision of the DP Plan for 2007-27. The SEA states that, "Pune is surrounded by many hills from almost all sides like Katraj Hill, Pachgaon Parvati, Ramtekdi, Gultekdi, Range Hills, Chatushringi Hill, Vetal Tekdi etc. To restore the ecology and enrich the green cover on these hills, regeneration, forestation for biodiversity and protection of these hills is necessary". The objective has been set as "Regenerated, forested for biodiversity and protected hill environment".

We thus look to you to withhold permission for any commercial activity on this ecologically sensitive land.

To the Trustees and Secretary, Indian Law Society (ILS) - Punekars have always trusted you to keep your part of our precious Vetal tekdi free from any construction or commercial activity. We request you therefore to withdraw your proposed projects on the hill and  show the way as leaders in sustainable conservation of Pune's natural heritage