Indian Express 26.03.2010
Stay on building construction on Agriculture College campus
Express News Service Tags : Agriculture College campus girls hostel, pune Posted: Friday , Mar 26, 2010 at 2330 hrs
Pune: Pune Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade stayed the construction of two buildings in the Agriculture College campus on Wednesday. The order was issued after Professional Party of India (PPI) raised objections to the proposed construction, which involved cutting down 70 trees. The buildings- one an administrative block and another a girls’ hostel are being planned on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of the institute.
“There is enough free space within the Agriculture College campus for construction. But, to construct building in the plot, around 70 trees, each between 80 to 100 years old, would have to be cut. This is a threat to the environment,” said Girish Deshpande, core member, PPI.
“Ironically, the college management has plans to use the proposed administrative block to conduct studies regarding environment and plants. We wrote a letter to Pune Minicipal Commissioner Mahesh Zagade,” said Deshpande.
The proposed plan is spread over 1.5 acres and Deshpande said, “There are other ways of celebrating a centenary. In fact, within the Agriculture College campus, there is enough barren land where the constructions can be carried out. We have approached several environmentalists, NGOs and civic activists in order to keep a close watch on the developments regarding the construction.”
