MP Shrirang Barne Opposes Proposed Police Headquarters Site at Tathawade

Pimpri-Chinchwad: To combat rising pollution, 1.1 million trees were planted on government land at the ‘Valumata Farm’ in Tathawade, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Animal Husbandry Department. This greenery has provided much-needed relief to local residents. However, a proposal was made to allocate this land for the Police Commissionerate, a move that would necessitate cutting down these trees. Consequently, MP Shrirang Barne has requested Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to allocate 50 acres of land—originally earmarked for YASHADA—to the police instead.

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A formal representation regarding this matter has been submitted to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. In it, MP Barne notes that while a decision was made to allocate approximately 50 acres of the Animal Husbandry Department’s land for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Police Commissionerate, this decision appears to have overlooked the area’s environmental conditions, biodiversity, and extensive tree cover. Approximately 1.1 million trees were planted in this area through the ‘Vanrai’ organization as part of a CSR initiative by Hyundai. As the land was historically used for agriculture, it is home to many large, old, and naturally grown trees. Undertaking construction or developing a parade ground here—which would require large-scale tree felling—would be highly inappropriate from an environmental conservation perspective. Preserving the city’s green cover is a critical necessity today.

Alternative: Allocating the land designated for ‘YASHADA’ to the Commissionerate

Grazing land (*Gayran*) is available for the Police Commissionerate in several villages falling within its jurisdiction. Therefore, this land should be utilized for the Police Commissionerate. Alternatively, the State Government had previously allocated 75 acres of land—originally belonging to the Animal Husbandry Department at Tathawade—to the Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASHADA). However, YASHADA has not utilized this land over the past 8 to 10 years. Fifty acres of this tract could be made available for the Police Commissionerate; this approach would preserve the existing tree cover and protect the environment. YASHADA has currently leased this land to Maha-Metro.

Hand Over Land Management to the Municipal Corporation

The approximately 67 hectares of land owned by the Animal Husbandry Department—located in the heart of the city—should remain under the department’s ownership, but its maintenance and management should be entrusted to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. A grand ‘Central Park’ for the city should be developed there. This would provide citizens with extensive green, open spaces, boost environmental conservation, and preserve a magnificent natural legacy for future generations. The area would generate abundant oxygen. Therefore, MP Barne has requested a reconsideration of the current decision, urging authorities to conduct an on-site inspection, carry out an objective tree count, and make a positive decision only after considering the views of environmental experts and local citizens.

“I have no objection to allocating land for the Police Commissionerate. However, 1.1 million trees have been planted on this specific site, and trees are crucial given the rising pollution levels. I have requested the Chief Minister to consider allocating 50 acres of the land previously given to YASHADA for the Commissionerate instead.”
– Shrirang Barne, MP, Maval Lok Sabha Constituency.

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