Huge damage to environment due to new Mahabaleshwar project, Bachulkar

Maharashtra: Renowned botanist and naturalist Dr Madhukar Bachulkar said that the new Mahabaleshwar project will destroy the environment and there will be a great loss of biodiversity. A seminar was organized regarding the new draft plan of Mahabaleshwar Giristan Vikas Project. He was speaking at this time. A large number of environmentalists including Sunil Bhoite, Sudhir Sukale, Shaunak Kadam, Yashwant Agunde, Pandurang Gore were present on the occasion.

Dr Bachulkar said that there is confusion among the local people regarding this scheme. There are many mistakes in this plan and a lot of wrong information has been presented. This plan is completely in English and MSRDC has taken care that the local citizens do not understand it. He also said that copies of this plan should be made available to the Gram Panchayat free of cost, and the plan should be read at the village level with the help of the local administration along with the citizens of each village. Meanwhile, the environment will be destroyed due to this project. Dr. Bachulkar said that this will cause a huge loss of biodiversity.

A new project of Mahabaleshwar has started in 235 villages of Satara district. Meanwhile, MSRDC has prepared the draft of the project. Public notice was also given in this regard. Even after 11 days of the notification, the plan was not found anywhere in the concerned office or website. If any local citizen went to ask, the officials were reluctant to give the plan by giving a brief answer. Meanwhile, Dr. MSRDC has taken care that this plan does not reach the local citizens. Madhukar Bachulkar said. It is necessary to stop environmental degradation in the name of tourism development. The development work done on the hill and hill slopes in the past has been flooded. After this experience, it is wrong to play with the environment once again, said Dr. Bachulkar. Sunil Bhoite also expressed his views on this occasion.