The Baner-Pashan Biodiversity Park is a proposed 200 hectare protected region currently under development in the

Baner Baner is a suburb in the Western Metropolitan Corridor of Pune, India. Baner is well known for "Varkari" Parampara and Bhakti Aradhana from many years. Baner is bordered by Pashan in south, Balewadi to the west, Aundh to the north and Pune Univ ...

and

Pashan Pashan is suburb of Pune, India. It is located off the Mumbai-Bangalore national highway, by-passing Pune city. Pashan road serves as the main approach road for Mumbai-Pune expressway. Pashan is bordered by Baner in north, Sus on west, Bav ...

suburbs of

Pune Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

by the

Pune Municipal Corporation The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC, IAST: Puṇe Mahānagarpālikā) is the civic body that governs the inner limits of Pune, India. It is in charge of the civic needs and infrastructure of the metropolis, which is spread over an area of 484 ...

. The park is being constructed to protect the biodiversity near and around the

Baner Hill Baner Hill is a hill that separates two suburbs of Pashan and Baner in the city of Pune. The hill is the third highest point within the city limits, with an elevation of 2224 ft., surpassed by the Vetal Hill Vetal Hill (Marathi langua ...

and its spur, the

Pashan Hill Pashan is suburb of Pune, India. It is located off the Mumbai-Bangalore national highway, by-passing Pune city. Pashan road serves as the main approach road for Mumbai-Pune expressway. Pashan is bordered by Baner in north, Sus on west, Bavdh ...

History

Pune witnessed a large scale development in Infrastructure in the 2000s. As a result, the Baner and Pashan suburbs were directly affected due to their close proximity to the IT Park. The Pashan area covers about 91% of the hilly area of the city. So, there is a potential of these hills to be used as the green lungs of the city. The PMC, supported by the State Government is developing a park over here due to this reason.

Location

The Location of the park is over a 200 hectare land on the hills of Pashan:

Baner Hill

Baner hill is a hill that separates two suburbs of Pune, Pashan and Baner. The hill is the third highest point within the city limits, with an elevation of 678 m, surpassed by the Vetal Hill and the Surtarwadi Hill. The place is actually the home for a plantation drive that has been taken up enthusiastically by the locals, helped by numerous volunteers. One can see people coming up early in the morning every Sunday and working in groups to make the place greener. However, there are multiple instances of tree felling, cutting of branches, setting fire to the dry grass in summers which are a constant threat to the flora and fauna on the hills. The hills are not secured by any proper fencing, nor are there any security staff of the Pune Municipal Corporation, therefore many miscreants ravage the flora, also anti social elements use the site for drinking / gambling illegal activities.

Pashan Hill

Pashan hill is the

spur A spur is a metal tool designed to be worn in pairs on the heels of riding boots for the purpose of directing a horse or other animal to move forward or laterally while riding. It is usually used to refine the riding aids (commands) and to back ...

of Baner Hill, with an elevation of 660 m. The plantation drive also takes place here. It is a great spot of birdwatchers and for picnics. The hill currently hosts various water supply tanks used by volunteers for watering plants . Similar problems of tree cutting, miscreants using the hills for drinking, illegal activities are affecting the security and sanctity of these hills as these are not fenced properly or guarded by the officials.

References

{{reflist Geography of Pune Parks in Pune