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The move to put up a 20-km longfence along the Kas plateau nearSatara a day ahead of theUNESCOs recognition of the

entire stretch of Western Ghats asworld heritage site has caught thestate forest department on the wrongfoot. It seems the department was insuch a hurry that neither did it waitfor the UNESCOs announcement norallowed the committee, appointed byit, to submit a feasibility report.

Now, the department has realisedits mistake after a public outcry andhas decided to reconsider its decision.

Environmentalists and villagers areopposing the move as it will restrictthe movement of natives as well aswildlife. The locals say that it is anencroachment and will not serve thepurpose. During monsoon, especiallyin August, the plateau comes to life,with a picturesque view of varioustypes of flowers embracing the plateau.

However, the forest departmentcontends that it had fenced theplateau, famously known as the valleyof flowers, to protect rare and endan-

gered species of plants from cattle andwild animals.

Dharmaraj Ghorpade, chairman ofthe Satara Panchayat Samiti said,Why did the forest department sud-denly put up fencing now while it didnot take any action for so many years.The fencing will create difficulties forwildlife, which is a part of theplateaus richness.

Amit Kadam, member, Satara ZillaParishad, has also joined Ghorpade inopposing the forest department.

On June 12 when the department

had convened a meeting to discuss thefencing issue, P N Munde, ChiefRange Forest Officer of Kolhapur, toohad disapproved the departmentsproposal.

Later, Munde admitted that it wasa mistake and the fence will be with-drawn in phases.

A week later, Pravinsinh Pardeshi,State secretary, forest and environ-

ment department, had visited theplateau and had announced that acommittee would be appointed tofind a solution.

Well-known author Dr SandeepShrotri, who has penned books on Kasplateau, was appointed a member ofthis committee.

Shrotri, who works with Satara-based NGO Ranwata, said, The fenc-ing will affect the eco-system in manyways. While external soil or metal isharmful for the plateaus ecology, theyhave used concrete and iron to build

the fencing. The oil paints on the pillarswill seep in the water and pose dangerto migratory species of fish. Also peoplecome here to see natures beauty but the

fence will obstruct their view.Shrotri added, Now no develop-

ment work can be carried out here asper the International Union forConservations of Nature (IUCN) guide-lines. Meanwhile, the wildlife wardenof Pune along with several organisa-tions, researchers and ecologists havedecided to organise a public consulta-tion on the issue on July 7 in Pune.

Forest department in a bindExperts , villagers slam officials for building 20-km fence in Kas without giving a thought to ecology

Devidas [email protected]

SANJAYKARANDE

The 20-km long fence was put up a day ahead of UNESCOs announcement

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CITYwww.punemirror.in/city PuneMirror 7MONDAY, JULY 9, 2012

Most days, Shobha Bansodeleaves her house in themorning and sweeps thestreets in different parts of

the city. However, during the last sixmonths, her persona has undergonea transformation as she dons the role

of Kashibai in 19th-century Pune.Satyashodhak,a play based on the

life of Mahatma and Savitribai Phuleand produced by employees of thePune Municipal Corporation (PMC)staged its 60th show at BalgandharvaRangmandir on Saturday. Bansode(50) is one of several labourers whoselife has changed since she startedattending rehearsals for the drama.

Bansode, who was forced to leaveschool at 13 and married early, has

been working as a sweeper for the last20 years. Earlier, I could barelyrecognise the alphabet. Now, after

this play, I can read newspapers. I ameager to know what is happening insociety,she said.

I did this with the support of myhusband and kids. My husband actu-ally said I am doing society a doubleservice now, she added.

Nagnath Gaikwad is one of theconservancy staff workers, a drainagelabourer, working in the PMC for thelast 30 years. He is due to retire in fivemonths but he is proud to be part ofthe experiment. He underwent rigor-ous training for singing and bodymovement and also sang and com-posed many of the songs in the play.The play has increased our energy

levels. Now, even outside of the play,we find ourselves propagatingMahatma Phules principals.

Shahir Sadashiv Bhise, anotherworker, said, Until a year ago, wehad had only heard of MahatmaPhule. Except for his his birth ordeath anniversaries, we didnt reallyrelate to him. Now, I think I haveunderstood him 100 per cent.

Director Atul Pethe said, Irealised these labours have different

voices and skills. I just gave them aplatform, training and exposure.

Pethe started workshops sixmonths prior to the play and all ofthem were together from morning toevening. The labourers took work-shops in anatomy, voice modulationand composing songs. Nearly all ofthem were illiterate or semi-literate,public readings of books on Mahatma

Phule were arranged.Mukta Manohar, secretary of the

PMC employees union, said, MahatmaPhule gave the downtrodden and theworker class a voice. When these work-ers enact scenes from their lives, itbecomes more natural.

The play was written by G PDeshpande and has 25 actors ofwhich 16 are PMC employees, threeare theatre students and the rest areexperimental theatre artistes.

Its all play for these workersDevidas [email protected] Earlier, I could

barely recognise thealphabet. Now, afterthis play, I can read

newspapersSHOBHA BANSODE, A SWEEPER WHOPLAYS THE ROLE OF KASHIBAI

The workerssaythe play changedtheirlives

Participating in60shows ofSatyashodhak, a playonMahatmaandSavitribai Phule,has left a lasting impactonthe lives of16PMCClass IVemployeesMAHENDRAKOLHE

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