According to MPCB member secretary Sanjay Khandare, the proposal is expected to reverse the gradual disintegration of environment in the village. “We discussed the same with the gram panchayat and they were positive with their response,’’ he said.

The thrust of this initiative is to allow people to experience their connections with the natural resources around them. Issues affecting the village and their possible solutions were also discussed and the implementing agencies listed by MPCB.

Project leader Amar Supathe who readied the project said that with urban centric developments, villages face problems of migration that invariably leads to the disintegration of the old community systems. “Lack of village supportive infrastructure facilities, unsustainable environmental practices and a break down of the traditional knowledge system leads to an overall destruction of the villages. The motivation for establishing an eco-village is to reverse the gradual disintegration of supportive social and cultural structures and avoid destructive environmental practices,’’ he said. Eco-villages are intended to be socially, economically and ecologically sustainable communities that allow social networks within a broader framework.

Founder of Gramin Swachata Abhiyan Sunetra Ajit Pawar, who has been keenly following up this proposal, said that the plan clearly marks out how the village which is now exposed to various pollution agents can work towards an environment friendly development. “The plan can definitely change the face of the village,” she said.

The plan focuses on sanitation and health which aims at promoting community lifestock management, solid waste management, provision of community blocks, sewage treatment by green bridge technology, energy conservation through biogas power generation, solar street lighting system, non-conventional energy operated. “A focus on lake conservation adjoining the Kanary temple, improvement of the Baramati-Indapur road and improvement of the village road and heritage conservation of Hanuman temple are all part of the plan,’’ confirmed Supathe.