It was actually in October last year that the department had started the process of widening the road for conducting physical tests of candidates during the recruitment. Even at that time, residents had voiced their protest against the widening of the kaccha road. However, residents calmed down after assurances from the Forest Department. This time, the department has widened the same road up to about 15 feet and for doing so, it has even removed shrubs and thickets. This has raised the hackles of the local residents who have decided to resist any move by the Forest Department. The Pachgaon Parvati is spread over 200 hectares.

“As a regular visitor to the hills, I have been objecting to the widening of the road. However, the department has widened it further and cleared thickets and bushes along the way for that purpose. Actually, the forest department should try and keep the forest cover intact. However, they are doing exactly the opposite. We want that the forest department should stop tampering with the wilderness,” said Dilip Dakhave, a resident.

However, the forest officials said there was no danger to the wild life. Assistant Conservator of Forests of Pune Division Ashok Pawar said, “Narrow trails have already been in existence and we have just widened that a bit. The purpose of doing this is to facilitate the movement of firetenders and water tankers in case of forest fire. The Forest Department vehicles would also use this road for patrolling.” Pawar ruled out the possibility of tarring the road in near future.

However, the residents raise doubts about the duct dug alongside this widened road. “If the road is meant for forest vehicles or firetenders, why have they dug a duct alongside the road?” asked another resident.