Green flag to Pavana Valley Villages to Kusgaon Budruk road

24 Aug 2023 CW Team

The Forest Department has granted preliminary approval for the diversion of slightly over two acres of land from the reserve and private forest categories in Maval tehsil. This is intended to facilitate the construction of a new road that will connect the Other District Road (ODR)-69 with Kusgaon Budruk near the village of Gevhandi (Apti) in the same Maval tehsil. This request was put forth by the Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP). The approval is contingent upon the implementation of compensatory afforestation measures and the submission of the net present value assessment.

Under the provisions of Section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, the approval has been granted to build a road connecting Pavana Valley villages to Kusgaon Budruk. The purpose of this road is to offer local residents quicker access to markets, medical facilities, and schools in Kusgaon. Additionally, it will enhance connectivity for neighbouring regions with tehsil areas in Vadgaon Maval.

The proposal for this project was presented by the executive engineer of ZP's B&C's north division. They sought permission to allocate approximately 0.96 hectares of land from the reserve and private forest property for the road's construction. After an exhaustive evaluation, the Forest Department has consented to the diversion of 0.945 hectares (equivalent to 2.335 acres) of forest land.

During the construction of the Pavana Dam, a new road was built above the backwater level. Kusgaon Budruk serves as a nearby market for the villages situated in Pavana Valley. However, due to the topography of the Western Ghats, the residents of Gevhandi and Apti have had to undertake longer journeys to reach Kusgaon. Currently, there is a footpath that traverses the forest land of Gevhandi and Kusgaon. This underscores the necessity for a shorter road connecting ODR 69 (Pavana Nagar, Gevhande, Apti) to Kusgaon Budruk.

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