Online petition to CM looks to revive ARAI-tekdi issue ; Move comes after activists find in RTI that forest dept recommended what they demand.

Pune Mirror: Pune: Wednesday, 10 February 2016.

For years now, localites especially green activists have been staunchly opposing the acquisition of forest land by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) on the city's beloved tekdis or hills. In fact, the demand has been for these 53.74 hectares of additional land to be returned to the forest department, which has also been recommended in December last year by chief conservator of forests, Jeet Singh, to the principal chief conservator of forests, A K Nigam. Now, in a bid to revive and strengthen this fight in the face of this revelation, citizens have started an online petition on activism portal Change.org, addressed directly to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Dr Sushma Date, one of the citizens who has been fighting for the land on Vetal tekdi, said, "The expansion of ARAI activity had received sustained opposition from local residents, even backed by senior scientists like Jayant Narlikar and Madhav Gadgil. Consequently, ARAI had not utilised the land for the purpose it was taken for."

Documents obtained by protesters under the Right to Information (RTI) Act around two months ago indicate that CCF Singh, in a letter dated December 4, 2015, had told PCCF Nigam in Nagpur that only two hectares that house the offices and laboratories of ARAI should remain with them. The online petition is trying to highlight and support this recommendation to make its case stronger.

The petition also claims that in January last year, ARAI levelled approximately two acres of forest land for constructing a parking lot without obtaining the necessary environment clearances, indicating that it has scant knowledge and respect for the precious biodiversity of the forest land it is occupying. Moreover, though the land was given to them in 2009, no use of it has been made in the last six years.

The petition is of concern given that this hill is one of the last remaining green spaces in the heart of the city, which activists insist needs to be preserved for future generations. The petition adds that although there is a need for automotive research and testing, such industries need to be given alternative land in industrial belts around the city, rather than in the midst of valuable forests, where activities could impact fragile ecology and wildlife in the area.