Pune: NIBM Annexe Residents Raise Concerns Over Forest Destruction with Authorities

Pune, 11th September 2024: Residents of the NIBM Annexe area, under the aegis of the NIBM Annexe Forum, met with forest department officials on Wednesday to address the destruction of forest land and its adverse impact on the urban population.

The forum, led by Director Jaymala Dhankikar, has been vocal about the environmental degradation in the area, prompting a petition to the Ministry of Forests, New Delhi, calling for a detailed inspection.

Forest department official Vishal Yadav met with the committee members to hear their grievances. He recorded Dhankikar’s statement in the presence of two eyewitnesses, with all necessary documents signed and thumb impressions taken as per legal requirements. The statements were then read aloud for verification by the members present.

During the meeting, residents proposed key measures to prevent further environmental damage, including the implementation of Continuous Contour Trenching (CCT) on NIBM Hill, the completion of an unfinished fencing wall, and the construction of a retaining wall on the collapsing section of the hill opposite Dorabjee Heritage Mall.

In her address, Dhankikar expressed frustration with the failure of civic authorities to address these issues. “As citizens, we are doing our best for the area due to the complete failure of civic authorities. Rainwater is rushing down the hill, flooding the parking lots of Ganga Kingston Society and accumulating in the lift ducts. We are also deeply concerned about the unstable hill opposite Heritage Mall, which is collapsing and could result in a tragedy. It is the duty of all concerned government officials to address these issues before a major environmental disaster occurs,” she stated.

Daljeet Goraya, another director of the forum, echoed these concerns. “Over the years, rapid urbanization has caused significant environmental destruction. There is an urgent need to protect citizens from the looming environmental crisis. We received a positive response from the forest department and will work closely with them in the coming days to mitigate factors related to climate change,” he added.

Dhankikar had previously written to the Ministry of Environment and Forests on August 7, 2024, demanding an environmental impact assessment and an evaluation of the damage to the NIBM reserve forest area.