CONTENTS
Abstract i
Acknowledgements iii
Contents v
List of tables ix
List of figures xi
List of maps xiii
List of abbreviations xv
Premise xvii
1 Introduction 1
1.1 Context 1
1.1.1 Western Ghats in India 1
1.1.2 Biodiversity hotspot 1
1.1.3 Introduction to Western Ghats in Maharashtra: 2
1.1.4 Study region 2
1.2 Introduction to study region 3
1.2.1 Pune hills: 4
1.2.1.1 Vetal hill: 4
1.2.1.2 Taljai hill: 5
1.2.1.3 Parvati hill: 5
1.2.1.4 Warje Hill: 6
1.2.1.5 Ram hill: 6
1.2.1.6 Baner Hill: 6
1.2.1.7 Hills in the outskirts of Pune city: 7
1.2.2 Climate 7
1.2.2.1 Wind velocity and direction: 8
1.2.3 Roads and Linkages 9
1.2.4 Elevation and Slope Analysis 9
1.2.5 Soil 10
1.2.6 Hydrology 11
1.2.7 Land-use 12
1.2.7.2 Forest: 13
1.2.7.3 Plantation of exotic species on Hills: 13
1.3 Historical timeline 14
1.3.1 Significance of hills to the city 14
1.3.2 Evolution of the city with respect to its physical character and forest cover 14
1.3.3 Hydrology as an important resource for the city to sustain: 18
2 Urbanisation in Pune and environmental impacts 19
2.1 Urbanisation in India 19
2.2 Urbanisation in Pune city 19
2.2.1 Green spaces in the city: 20
2.3 Imapcts of urbanisation on the city 20
2.3.1 Impacts on hills: 21
2.3.1.1 Alterations in hills over development: 22
2.3.1.2 Increase in slum areas on foothills: 23
2.3.2 Urban heat 23
2.4 Need for urban environmental conservation 24
3 Present condition of hills 25
3.1.1 Comparative Analysis between all hills in Pune: 25
4 Conservation starategies 27
4.1.1 Conservation strategies: 27
4.1.2 Initiatives taken by different departments to conserve Hills, Urban forest management 27
5 Site study 31
5.1 Taljai Hill: 31
5.2 Association between hills and people: 31
5.3 Alterations in Taljai Hill: 31
5.4 Urban park on Taljai hill: 33
5.4.1 Condition on Hill tops: 33
5.4.2 Conditions on Hill slopes: 34
5.4.3 Conditions on Foot-Hills: 34
5.5 Study of Natural and Urban layers of Taljai hill: 34
5.5.1 Study of natural layers: 35
5.5.2 Study of Urban layers: 36
5.6 Need to conserve the hill 36
6 Bio-Diversity Park (BDP) initiative 37
6.1 What is Bio-diversity Park? 37
6.1.1 Objectives of Bio-diversity Park 37
6.1.2 Laws and Regulations 37
6.1.2.1 What are the challenges in the implementation of BDP 38
6.1.2.2 What was the law before this area was merged with PMC 38
6.1.2.3 What is the current law after merging the area in PMC for HTHS (Hill tops and hill slopes) 38
6.1.2.4 What is the proposed law after merging the area in PMC for HTHS (Hill tops and hill slopes) after BDP implementation 39
7 Proposal and guidelines 41
7.1 BDP approach considering the interests of all the departments: 41
7.2 Conclusion: 42
References 45
Bibliography 47
Appendix 49