Greens see red over PMC plan for quarry lake

The Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) plan to set up a bird sanctuary around the quarry lake on Vetal Tekdi in Pune has ruffled the feathers of environmentalists and citizens alike.

They claimed that the introduction of foreign species of trees and shrubs would disturb the fragile ecological balance of the quarry lake, known for its vibrant fauna and birds.

Located in Kothrud, this quarry lake is a popular haunt of many in the city, for its salubrious surroundings.

Recent activities atop the hill had concerned many, who claim that it would destroy the environmental balance of the area. Shivona Bhojwani, a student of environmental science of Fergusson College, had noticed the activities when she had gone for a field visit to the area.

She noticed men digging around the quarry lake and, on enquiry, she was told that it was for the building of a boat club and laying of a garden in the area. "Any construction activities would destroy the ecological balance of the quarry lake," she said.

Shivona's concern was shared by other environmentalists like Aneeta Benninger, Sujit Patwardhan and others, who pointed out to the necessity of leaving the quarry lake untouched.

Their concern assumes significance given the fact that the PMC corporators had sanctioned the changing of the land zoning of portions of Vetal Tekdi in July, in spite of fierce opposition from citizens.

The land zoning was changed from hill top/hill zones to public/semi-public in reference to the Automotive Research Association of India's (ARAI) tentative plan for expansion on the hill.

Additional municipal commissioner, Naresh Zurmure, said that the PMC did not have any plans for constructing a boat club in the area. "There was a proposal for a boat club, but after taking into consideration the risks involved I shot it down. Instead, we are going to fashion a bird sanctuary in the quarry," he said.

According to him, the digging activities reported by citizens is undertaken to increase the moisture carrying capacity of the area to avoid any water scarcity in the summer months. "A few wire meshes would be fixed around the hills to prevent mud from accumulating in the lake," he said. The total budget of the project is fixed at Rs45 lakh.

A few sheds and a small amphitheatre would be constructed around the quarry, which would help citizens observe the birds.

However, the plans for bird sanctuary were not welcomed by the citizens, who wanted the quarry to be left alone. Beninger told DNA, "Any construction around the quarry would be detrimental to the area and would disturb the birds and the wild animals there. Instead of bringing tons of concrete there, the PMC should erect a railing around the lake and conserved it," she said.