Pune: Starting June 1, the Forest Department will implement a strict ban on plastic at Sinhagad Fort, intensifying efforts to preserve the historic site. In addition to serving notices to those involved in unauthorized constructions, authorities will now require tourists to pay a refundable deposit for any plastic water bottles brought to the premises. Penalties will be imposed on those caught littering, confirmed Assistant Forest Conservator Deepak Pawar in a conversation with Maharashtra Times.
A recent survey by the district administration revealed that Sinhagad remains the only fort in the region still facing encroachment. Acting on these findings, the District Collector convened a high-level meeting with officials from the Forest and Archaeology Departments, instructing them to eliminate encroachments and enforce the plastic ban without delay. In response, Pawar met with local vendors on Sunday to discuss the new measures.
To enhance tourist experience and manage visitor flow, the Forest Department is also preparing to launch a dedicated mobile app by the end of June. This app will offer a range of services, including online ticket booking, real-time crowd updates, traffic status in the ghat section, and fort entry details. A beta version of the app is currently under testing.
As part of the new initiative, vendors have been given eight days to align their practices with the ban. Starting in June, entry points at the base of the fort will also collect refundable deposits for plastic bottles and bags. Vendors selling bottled water will be responsible for collecting these deposits and issuing refunds when bottles are returned. A vendor committee has been formed to oversee the successful rollout of this system.
Although a similar plastic ban was declared in 2016, it failed due to insufficient cooperation from vendors. This time, the Forest Department is determined to ensure effective implementation through better coordination and proactive involvement of all stakeholders.
