Activists say ESR not being used,PMC says loopholes plugged

As per government rules,the PMC prepares its ESR every year to assess the impact of development projects on environment and it has to use the report as a reference while planning future projects.

But activist Vivek Velankar says,“The ESR is merely a formality as nothing comes out of it. The PMC is neither able to assess the impact of development projects on the city environment nor it uses the ESR while planning projects to ensure that there is no degradation of environment.”

He said the civic administration seems to keep the ESR in cupboard after it is approved by the general body and it is used only during the preparation of the next ESR.

Work on ESR was started in last September soon after the previous report was approved by the general body,Zurmure said. “We have conducted 14 workshops with environmentalists in the process of preparing the ESR have also incorporated recommendations made by NGOs. We have also made a presentation on the ESR before all party leaders to include their recommendations.”

A committee of party leaders have been formed to finalise the draft ESR before its tabled in the general body for final approval,he added.

Zurmure said there cannot be any complaint against PMC on not taking the ESR seriously while planning development projects. “”his time we have made budgetary provisions for maintaining environment. The initiatives are based on the observation in the previous year’s ESR,” Zurmure said.

Plantation Drives

On World Environment Day,politicians have planned to participate in various tree plantation drives in their respective electoral panels.

The PMC has also planned plantation of at least 1,000 trees at various locations in the city. The PMC has also planned various programmes at Rajiv Gandhi zoo. Around 100 principals and teachers of Maharashtra State Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board,Pune,and Zilla Parishad will participate in various activities organised at the zoo.

A talk on wildlife conservation will be followed by screening of a documentary on wildlife. Zoo Educational Officer will interact with participants on the importance of biodiversity conservation.