PUNE, Feb 12: The picturesque sanctuary of Bhimashankar which will hit the spotlight this Sunday thanks to Mahashivratri, is expected to attract at least three lakh pilgrims from all over Maharashtra, who will add to the alarming pollution by way of garbage, particularly, plastic.The plastic menace that threatens to systematically spoil and degrade the thickly wooded forests that the Bhimashankar is studded with and also endanger the very rare species of the Indian giant squirrel that survive here in abundance and have begun to devour this dangerous material, has woken up the relevant authorities, like never before.In an unprecedented move, district collector Vijaykumar Gautam who has established the Bhimashankar Region Development Plan, in a bid to restore its pristine glory, has banned plastic in this 2.5 square kilometre pilgrimage centre, which is located about 135 km from Pune, for the Mahashivratri festival. This beautiful sanctuary is perched at the pinnacle of Sahyadri ranges, in the northern parts of Pune district, overlooking the coastal district of Thane.The 150-odd stall owners, selling flowers and other ritualistic accessories required for the darshan and line up outside the Bhimashankar temple, one of the 12 important jyotirlingas of the country, have been directed not to stock plastic bags.In a meeting held between the sub-divisional officer, Khed, the forest department and members of the stall owners, the banning of plastic on the day of Mahashivratri was mutually agreed upon. In addition, the parking area, outside the temples will have young volunteers to check if the pilgrims have carried plastic bags with them.While at least 3,000 odd pilgrims visit Bhimashankar on Thursdays and weekends and callously spread plastic garbage in and around the temple area, Suhas Divse, sub-divisional officer of Khed elaborates, ``Since the turn-out on Mahashivratri is stupendous, this plastic ban is definitely going to contain the harmful plastic that is not bio-degradable from spreading all over the sanctuary. Besides keeping checks near the parking area where the local school children have volunteered, we are arranging for big boxes to be kept near the temple entrance. Here too, the volunteers will check out on every visitor and ask him to dump any plastic he or she may be carrying along, into the box. This is the first time we are trying out this experiment and we do hope it works''.His concern is not confined only to the Bhimashankar forest which is now strewn with plastic bags and bottles, giving it an ugly dimension but also the giant squirrel as well. According to Divse: ``Some scientists who had conducted a study in Bhimashankar last year, found that now the squirrel, which is a very rare species in Maharashtra, has begun consuming this plastic which may have a dangerous fall-out to its existence. Hence, it is very important that plastic garbage is immediately curtailed''.Every year, about ten days before the festival, the collectorate has been looking into the roads and drinking water situation for the pilgrims. This year, however, along with these two conveniences, saving of the Bhimashankar environment has received top priority.Thankfully, the plastic ban, which will trigger off on the holy day of Mahashivratri, is expected to be a long term measure, chalked out by the Bhimashankar Regional Development Plan, the draft plan of which will be announced by Gautam on Mahashivratri day. Besides, the ban on plastic, which will be enforced severely, no vehicles will be allowed at least three kilometres in the temple's vicinity. Also, Divse stated that shifting of the stalls near the temple to another area and banning plastic bags for good is in the pipeline. The Pune collectorate is treating this sanctuary as a potential tourist attraction but with emphahsis on environment.Prakash Gole, leading environmentalist and a founder of the Ecological Society, who has been asked by the forest department to study the Bhimashankar sanctury is also a worried man. States he, ``The source of the Bhima river is just behind the temple and the river bed here is all littered with plastic thrown by callous visitors. As a result, this plastic is spread into the `Devrai' or the sacred grove forest which is just a stone's throw away from the source of the river. The `Devrai' here has some exclusive plant species which are now being surrounded by plastic. Besides the giant squirrel has now begun consuming this dangerous material which might threat its very existence. Hence, banning of plastic in Bhimashankar is the urgent need of the day''.When this reporter visited Bhimashankar on Wednesday, the menace of plastic garbage was evident everywhere, not only around the temple but around most of the thickly wooded areas near the forest guest house, the MTDC resort and the precious `Devrai' behind the temple. Plastic bags were chained in dozens around shrubs, disposable plastic glasses and bottles dotted most of the outer area of thick woods and the damage looked substantial. As you approach these forest areas, one could help being delighted at the unique voice of the giant squirrel, This species, is very shy and therefore prefers only thick forest. It leaps 20 feet from one tree to another and one squirrel makes several nests for itself. As you stroll through the wooded pathways you can have a glimpse at their luxurious nests but you are disappointed at their alarm signals which they send to one another in the heart of the woods, to inform the presence of human beings.Apart from the giant squirrel, there are panthers, sambars, deer, mouse deer, hynae, wild boar and the civet. This sanctuary that is enriched with such plentiful of flora and fauna is thankfully receiving attention from those who matter, before it is too late to cry over the spilt milk.
