Special Correspondent
Pune : To tackle the recurring fires on the hills surrounding Pune, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil has urged the forest department and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to adopt proactive safety measures in collaboration with local citizens. Patil emphasized that funding would be allocated to improve safety and safeguard the environment.
Patil made this announcement during a review meeting held at Van Bhavan, focusing on the protection of Pune’s hills, especially after the recent fire incidents on Mhatoba Hill in Kothrud. He assured that a meeting would be held with PMC Commissioner and other relevant officials on January 23 to discuss various environmental concerns.
At the meeting, Patil also instructed authorities to take action against unauthorized constructions on the hills. He highlighted the need for better preventive measures to avoid such incidents in the future, especially after the significant damage caused to the 6,500 trees planted on Mhatoba Hill, with around 2,500 trees lost in the recent fires.
To promote the growth of remaining trees, Patil directed the forest department to focus on effective weed management. He also called for the construction of protective walls and stronger preservation of forest areas, with plans to secure entry points with guards and install high-capacity solar-powered CCTV cameras for surveillance. Furthermore, he proposed increasing the number of patrolling guards from two to eight, ensuring they are provided with necessary resources such as motorcycles and solar-powered lamps. Funds for these measures will be provided, he confirmed.
Deputy Conservator of Forests Mahadev Mohite shared updates on the ongoing efforts for hill safety and suggested a joint meeting with the municipal commissioner to address issues within PMC’s jurisdiction.
