Pimpri Chinchwad: Metro Eco Park In Ravet Faces Demolition Threat For Proposed Election Commission Building

Ravet, 10th March 2023: The Metro Eco Park in Ravet, India is at risk of being demolished for the construction of a building by the Election Commission of India (ECI), much to the opposition of locals who live around the area. The Metro Eco Park Rescue Committee is leading the defense of the ecosystem, which consists of hundreds of trees, but the authorities say that part of the land on which the park stands belongs to the ECI.

This issue is not only about the proposed structure but also about the significant number of trees that will be cut down in the process. The Pimpri-Chinchwad New Town Development Authority (PCNTDA) had initially approved the development of the eco-park in 2016 as a way to compensate for trees cut down for the Maha Metro development work, as replantation efforts failed to keep the trees alive.

However, the PCNTDA was dissolved by the government, and environmentalists in the area took on the task of planting and nurturing rare types of trees, which they brought from the Sahyadri mountain range. Over the past six to seven years, these trees have successfully grown on the mostly rocky land, and an ecosystem has been created, consisting of over 1,000 trees belonging to 250 species.

The eco-park spans 1.6 hectares of land and serves as a crucial source of clean air for the residents in the area. The park has helped to improve the groundwater level, resolving water-related issues that previously plagued the area.

Despite the park’s importance to the community, the authorities have decided to cut down approximately 183 rare trees that they claim are on their part of the land. Locals have expressed their concerns over the proposed construction, as the destruction of these trees and bird homes could have significant environmental implications.

The concerned authorities, including the ECI, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, and the Collector’s office, have failed to reach a consensus on the matter, with each blaming the other for the situation. The locals have contacted the Prime Minister’s Office, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner, and the Collector to raise awareness of the issue, but there has been no definitive response from the authorities.

The PCNTDA was dissolved by the government, and all its movable and immovable assets and liabilities were transferred to the state government through Urban Development, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), and subsequently to the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. The government used the powers granted under Section 40(1B), Section 160, and Section 161 of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act of 1966 to dissolve the PCNTDA.

Residents of Ravet have spent approximately Rs. 2 crore maintaining the park in every possible way, from watering the trees to installing a boundary wall, electricity, and water supply connections. They have opposed any construction in the area, as they have worked hard to preserve this ecosystem.

In conclusion, the proposed demolition of the Metro Eco Park in Ravet, India, has sparked an outcry among the locals, who have spent years cultivating the ecosystem. The authorities have failed to reach a consensus, and the fate of the park and its trees remains uncertain. The destruction of this park could have far-reaching environmental implications, and the authorities must take into account the importance of preserving such ecosystems.

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