3 min readPuneAug 7, 2026 08:54 PM IST
First published on: Aug 7, 2026 at 08:54 PM IST
Environmentalists and civil activists in Pune have for years opposed the destruction of the city’s hills, which they describe as its lungs. The Pune Green movement has been working to protect these green spaces from being lost in the name of development. The movement also pushed policymakers to introduce Biodiversity Park (BDP) reservations on hills, restricting construction activities.
There are around 10 hills across Pune, and all have witnessed some form of encroachment, damaging their ecology.
Vetal Tekdi is the tallest among them, with a height of 700 metres and spread over 10.5 sq km in Bhamburda. It is under the control of the state Forest department and has seven natural streams, along with a large groundwater recharge area. The hill is also a bird hotspot, with 275 species recorded there.
The second-largest hill, Taljai Tekdi, lies in the heart of the city and is reserved for wildlife. It is home to peacocks, migratory birds and medicinal plants. Parvati Hill, meanwhile, has historical significance from the Peshwa era and houses a library.
Other important hills in the city include Chaturshringi Hill, Hanuman Tekdi in Shivajinagar, Katraj Tekdi in Jambhulwadi, Baner Tekdi in western Pune, Bavdhan Tekdi, Pashan Tekdi connected to Pashan Lake, and Sutarwadi Hill.
With the expansion of the city limits, several other hill areas have come under Pune’s jurisdiction, including those in Narhe, Ambegaon, Dhayari, Khadakwasla, Bibwewadi, Kondhwa, Mohammadwadi, Warje and Shivane. The city has forest areas spread across 10 locations, covering 1,701 hectares.
“The hills in the city maintain weather balance and support groundwater recharge. The proposed Balbharati-Paudphata road across Vetal Tekdi will affect 1,500 trees and several natural streams, which is why it has faced opposition from environmentalists,” the Pune Municipal Corporation’s Environment Status Report for 2025-26 stated.
Civic activist Vaishali Patkar said Pune has witnessed several protests in recent years to protect hills from encroachment, but the civic body has failed to find a permanent solution.
“The trees on hills help keep the air clean. They also regulate the city’s temperature, providing relief during summers, and act as important groundwater recharge zones. Unfortunately, instead of protecting these areas from encroachment, the Pune civic body has been planning development projects like roads on Vetal Tekdi,” she said.
Illegal constructions, slums and commercial activities such as restaurants are damaging Pune’s hills, Patkar said. Once lost, these natural spaces could have a major impact on the city’s environment, which is already under pressure due to concretisation and vehicular pollution caused by rapid urbanisation, she added.
There are around 10 hills across Pune, and all have witnessed some form of encroachment, damaging their ecology. (File Photo) 
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