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Pune Hill's Rs1.46 Lakh Crore Environmental Worth
21 Mar
Summary
- Vetal Tekdi's environmental services are valued at Rs14.6 lakh crore annually.
- Proposed infrastructure projects threaten this vital urban forest.
- The study quantified water, carbon, and biodiversity values.
Researchers have quantified the annual economic value of Vetal Tekdi's environmental services at approximately Rs14,60,000 crore ($171.35 billion). This study, published in the Athens Journal of Sciences in March 2026, challenges proposed infrastructure developments on the urban hill.
The report, led by Priti Mastakar of the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, highlights Vetal Tekdi's essential role as Pune's 'green lungs' amidst rapid urbanization. The team employed various environmental economics tools to assess the hill's value, which includes wetlands, carbon sequestration, oxygen production, and biodiversity.
Key services quantified include aquifers valued at Rs14,62,000 crore for storing water, which supplies one-third of Pune's needs. Heritage values from the Vetal and Hanuman temples also contribute. The study reinforces opposition to Pune Municipal Corporation's proposed projects, such as the Balbharati-Paud Phata Link Road and tunnels.
Conducted between December 2024 and July 2025, the research aimed to provide a monetary valuation of ecosystem services often taken for granted. The findings suggest that no development project can compensate for the environmental services Vetal Tekdi provides, emphasizing the need for conservation.
