Pune Greens push agenda

PUNE, January 9: Residents of Pune have demanded that candidates contesting Lok Sabha elections from Pune constituency must explain their stand on the State Government decision to allow 20 per cent construction on hillsides.

This demand was voiced at a meeting convened by founder of "Vanrai" and former Union minister Mohan Dharia. It was also decided that a steering committee needed to be set up to coordinate all groups opposing the Government plan to develop hills.

Dharia told the meeting that Chief Minister Manohar Joshi had assured him that he would review the Government proposal, when the latter’s attention was drawn to the notification issued by the Urban Development Department in this regard. The former Union minister also remarked that hillsides and hilltops must be handed over to the forest department.