1 week Ago
Pune: Candidates from the Kothrud and Shivajinagar assembly constituencies have begun to focus on ecological issues in the city as campaigning enters the last leg ahead of the Nov 20 polls but environmentalists say it is too little, too late. MVA's Kothrud candidate Chandrakant Mokate promised to safeguard the hills from projects such as the Bal-Bharati Paud Phata (BBPP) Road. "It has always been the Sena's motto to safeguard environment.
We are striving to protect the hills, which provide oxygen to the city. We do not advocate for projects that harm the hills," Mokate told TOI. Datta Bairat, Shivajinagar's Congress candidate, also promised to oppose BBPP road and the High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) projects, pledging his support to the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti in his manifesto.
Mokate's opponent in Kothrud, BJP's Chandrakant Patil visited ARAI hills last week and spoke about his efforts to halt the projects during his tenure as the guardian minister. He also claimed he had passed a resolution to plant 65,000 trees in the state for his 65th birthday. "During my tenure as the guardian minister of Pune district, the work of BBPP road was suspended," he said, and added that the issue of the hills was being raked up now in the background of the election to create confusion.
"As many as 6,500 trees are being planted on Mhatoba hill in Kothrud to conserve it," Patil said. Environmentalists, however, said the situation on the ground was different. "In reality, work continued over the last year — realignment of BBPP road was approved in July 2023, the transport report was prepared after the pre-feasibility report and road widening demarcation was completed at the exit/entrance of the tunnels; HCMTR alignment modifications were passed by state govt in May 2024," said Sumita Kale, a member of Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kriti Samiti.
Kale added that sufficient data and evidence has been presented on how these projects pose a danger to the city's ecology. "The three projects should be entirely deleted from the Development Plan. Politicians should stop pitching ‘environmental activists' against development and take a clear stand for the city.
We speak on the issue throughout the year and not just during elections," she added. Prajakta Mahajan, a member of the Pune River Revival group, acknowledged that it was good that some candidates have vowed to save the city's hills. But they must also focus on rivers and commit in writing that they would not harm the riparian zone around the river, she said.
"They must also commit to us about when the sewage treatment plants (STPs) will become functional. Only 30% of our sewage is treated, while the rest is discharged untreated into these rivers," Mahajan said. "But our focus must be on restoring rivers, preserving riparian zones and keeping the banks clean and waste-free.
We reject the so-called "Riverfront Development", which is, in fact, riverfront destruction. We want true river rejuvenation, and we will vote for candidates who commit to revitalizing our rivers, saving the floodplains and protecting the trees," she added. Angad Patwardhan, a member of Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti, said those pushing for destructive projects on Vetal Tekdi and the city's rivers are anti-development themselves.
"Govt is wasting thousands of crores of citizens' money to destroy Pune's ecology and is endangering people's lives. The only reason these projects are being pushed through is for financial gains of some builders and contractors, and of the officials and politicians who are in cahoots with them," he said. Voters in Junnar, meanwhile, were disappointed over the lack of inclusion of the human-leopard conflict in manifestos and pledges.
Junnar's incumbent MLA Atul Benke, who is in the fray this election too, failed to include the issue in his manifesto. "The focus has completely shifted to the inter-party fights with the five candidates and name-calling. The actual issue of our lives remains unaddressed; it is only mentioned now and then by a few candidates.
It is disappointing," said Roshan Kakade, a sugarcane farmer from Junnar..
