The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has proposed removing the biodiversity heritage tag from a 6.32-hectare land parcel in Aundh to facilitate the construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP). This land, located near Baner, was designated as a biodiversity heritage site because of its rich flora and fauna, making it an ecologically sensitive area. However, the PMC has argued that setting up the STP is essential for waste management and preventing pollution in nearby areas, which would otherwise affect the environmental health of the region.

The land is part of a significant plan to treat waste generated from Aundh, Baner, and Balewadi, and the PMC insists that the STP will be critical in reducing untreated sewage being released into natural water bodies. The corporation has submitted a request to the state biodiversity board, seeking permission to lift the protected status of the land to move forward with construction.

Environmentalists and local residents have expressed their opposition to this proposal. They argue that removing the biodiversity tag would lead to the destruction of the natural habitat, affecting various species that thrive in the area. The land, which holds ecological value, is home to several indigenous plant species and a variety of fauna, making it crucial for biodiversity conservation in the urban environment.

Critics of the plan suggest that the PMC should explore alternative locations for the STP that do not threaten ecologically sensitive zones. They emphasize the need to strike a balance between infrastructure development and environmental conservation, warning that irreversible damage to the local ecosystem may result from such projects.

As the proposal awaits approval from the state biodiversity board, the issue has sparked a larger debate about urban development versus environmental protection in growing cities like Pune.