Viewing post for bird watchers on Vetal Tekdi in Pune

A special viewing post for birdwatchers and artists is being built under the first urban joint forest management project (JFM) in the country at the quarry on Vetal Tekdi. A small waterway is also being built from the foot of the hill for watering trees.

“The birdwatchers’ centre that is in progress is because of the success of restoration work at the quarry,’’ claimed NCP corporator Nilesh Nikam.

Since 2007, the Pune Municipal Corporation and the forest department’s joint urban forest management committee has been undertaking conservation work on 247 acres on Vetal Tekdi (Bhamburda Hill).

“We are able to make a special site for birdwatchers as we have been successful in attracting about 60 different species of migratory birds to this quarry,’’ explained environmentalist Anuj Khare, who guided the media persons at the visit to the JFM project. “There are birds coming from Ladakh, making this a good spot for bird watching,’’ he added.

“There was a proposal to increase funding for forest cover and the plan was to undertake a soil and water conservation project and enrich the forest cover using indigenous trees. We have also secured the forest patch with a compound wall and  appointed security guards,’’ said Nikam.

The tekdi has more than 18,000 trees and the area has been secured with a 3,200-metre  wall.

“Soil and water conservation projects have been successful in increasing the water table and that has in turn increased the flora and fauna of the region,’’ Nikam said.