GREEN CITY or CONCRETE JUNGLE?

The title sounds like a debate topic-IK. But, recently I am thinking about it more.

The other day, I found myself in an unlikely conversation about 'construction projects in Pune' with few friends. The key takeaway- It has no end...and that's true.

With the ever-increasing population, buildings are bound to replace trees soon. Any suburb to me represents a giant concrete tentacle the city has thrown out in the last decade or so. This recent development came with the rise of gated communities and townships. So-called stand-alone houses are being redeveloped into taller buildings. The skyline's ever increasing...

 The city, which always has had too few green spaces is losing the little it has left!

Are the infra projects solely to blame?

Let’s look at the elephant in the room-ARAI tekdi. 3 infra projects, one of which involves a huge tunnel through the hill, have been vehemently opposed by environmentalists for decades. The area is a popular outdoors spot for many Punekars, with its abandoned quarry forming a unique ecosystem. I enjoy my outings there and wish to see its tranquillity and greenery maintained. Surely a young tekdi enthusiast like me is gonna contribute to the activism? Well, NO. 

 That's where I began to rethink. The tekdi tunnel aims to solve traffic congestion which will significantly lessen the traffic in the area.

I grew up in a 24/7 rush place called Nal-stop, not far away from ARAI. Surely an evening without honking and pollution, is a luxury? But then, what about the tekdi? I found myself being selfish. I soon forgot the big picture. This seems to be human nature in general.

A dichotomous take on any situation will prevent us from reaching a solution. 

(Questions on the web range from- ‘Is Mumbai gonna be under water in 50 years’ to ‘Do you believe in climate change?’ NOT HELPING!)

Environmental issues are supported in principle, but not in practice...and I kinda befit this description. But then, most of us are blissfully ignorant of the issue in the first place...or we are just too busy to care. The tunnel will be appreciated, and the ecological impact forgotten. There are organizations trying to combat environmental problems in the city…Pune ploggers, Vasundhara Abhiyan to name a few. However, they are few and their reach is limited.

Govt. intervention seems to be half hearted as well. It results in short lived attempts rather than a consistent effort. For instance, the recent G20 fever manifested in the beautification  of the city and roads being dotted with plants.

However, maintaining the rather unusually pleasing view post G20 was not the plan. Those plants have long given up the will to live.

It seems painting GREEN PUNE-CLEAN PUNE on walls is pretty much all we do.

 

The elderly often reminisce about the good old Pune with its ‘पेरूच्या बागा’ and ‘गर्दीच नव्हती तेव्हा’. But that Pune’s long gone. The city today is more grey than green. Even the चिमणी (the basic bird) has vanished due to higher temperatures.

Topics like global warming, sustainable development don’t just exist in textbooks. They are happening around us, and we are a part of it. Although the textbook answer to such issues is ‘raising public awareness’ I disagree. Even after decades of trying, the average Punekar is still throwing plastic in the river.

If each of us were to act on such matters individually, the public will soon follow suit. Hope they do. (Currently I find myself in the middle somewhere)

So, what's it to be then? GREEN CITY or CONCRETE JUNGLE?

Although the current situation points towards the latter, we can never be sure.

But there is one thing I am sure of.

Before long we will find ourselves saying - "पूर्वीचं पुणं असं नव्हतं!"

What do you think?

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Btw there's gonna be a 'पदयात्रा' by tekdi activists this evening. This is a fresh attempt on their part to save the tekdi. I am thinking about going...but the 'why bother?' man in me is waking up again..............