Natural Heritage
Pune district is located on leeward side of Western Ghats or the Sahyadris. It is situated at the Western margin of Deccan plateau in upper Bhima river basin. Located at the confluence of Mula and Mutha, two more rivers Pavana and Indrayani traverse the urban area. The city is surrounded by hills on the west and south – Bhamburda hill forest along the West and Sinhagad-Katraj-Diveghat range to the South. This unique location has bestowed a rich natural heritage to Pune. These ecosystems, along with a number of old gardens and green institutional campuses, are home to a variety of plant and animal life; making the city rich in biodiversity. Rapid urbanization, pollution and inadequate implementation of existing policies is a threat to this natural heritage.
INTACH Projects...
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Initiation of action on the Model Colony Lake to save it from being converted to a construction site -
Eco-restoration efforts for rivers: INTACH spearheaded the consortium of like-minded civil society organizations in Pune, called River Action Group, that worked towards eco-restoration efforts for rivers and awareness
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Research and documentation of sacred groves in Pune
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Listing and documentation of heritage trees in Pune
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Listing and documentation of natural heritage sites in Pune for the Pune Municipal Corporation
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Study of threatened wetlands in Pune
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Public interest litigations (PILs) at National Green Tribunal against encroachments in the river
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Other ongoing activities include natural heritage walks, drives, talks, presentations at various gatherings and forums.
Arts and Crafts
The District Gazetteer of 1885 records the setting of about 55 different craft based communities in Pune city including sonars (gold ornament makers), lohars (blacksmith), koshtis (weavers), kasars (glass bangle makers), shimpis (tailors), vadars (stone workers), buruds (bamboo workers), lakheris (lac bangle makers), tambats (coppersmiths), kumbhars (potters), manyars (bead makers). Many of these are now extinct, but some still survive including the tambat craft, burud craft, pottery and Poona saree. Changing times, lack of pride and awareness towards local crafts, rapid urbanization are some issues faced by the crafts of Pune.
Projects...
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Baseline survey of crafts in Pune undertaken.
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Supported formation of ‘Coppre’ a social enterprise working towards reviving the copper craft of Pune by giving contemporary designs for the traditional craft
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Design Workshop organized for craftspeople in Pune with RDTDC under Design and Technology Upgradation Scheme of DC (Development Commissioner) Handicrafts, GOI.
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Registered ‘Tambat’ craft as a ‘recognized handicraft’ with DC Handicraft, GOI.
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Initiated distribution of I cards and introducing health insurance schemes for crafts people through DC handicrafts, GOI.
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Heritage walks through crafts lanes designed
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Got the crafts of Pune listed as a part of the Environment Status Report (ESR) of the city.
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Through ‘Warsaa The Heritage Shop’ promotes local crafts
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Other ongoing activities include heritage walks, drives, talks, presentations at various gatherings and forums.
UPCOMING EVENTS
