MOEF wants eco shift for tourism in Mahabaleshwar
Pune: The eco-sensitive zone of Mahabaleshwar and Panchgani can look forward to a brighter ecological future, thanks to a new regional plan (RP).
The RP, whetted and approved by the high-level monitoring committee (HLMC) specially appointed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), was sent to the state government in June 2010 for final publication.
The RP, whetted and approved by the high-level monitoring committee (HLMC) specially appointed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF), was sent to the state government in June 2010 for final publication.
This was disclosed by HLMC chairman and former municipal commissioner of Pune, Devrath Mehta, in a press conference in the city on Saturday.
The RP assumes significance considering that it conforms to the zonal master plan, which is mandated in the MoEF’s eco sensitive zone notification of 2001.
Mehta told media persons that the new development plans (DPs) for both the hill stations would have to dovetail into the RP.
“We will whet the DPs before they are passed,” Mehta said.
According to environmentalist Vijay Paranjpye, a special invitee on the HLMC, the RP has a 30 year vision.
“The RP takes a comprehensive look at both man-made and natural heritage sites like old caves, streams, water falls, rivers and even bird and animal species,” Paranjpye said.
The RP also looks at the carrying capacity of the two hill stations, an aspect which has been ignored in the past.MoEF appointed HLMC for Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani chairman Devrath Mehta (centre), member Dr Farrokh Wadia (left) and special invitee Vijay Paranjpe (extreme right) at a press conference in the city on Saturday.