Beginning on June 1 at Sinhagad Fort, there is a plastic prohibition. Visitors have to pay bottle deposits, penalties for littering. Cooperation among monitoring committees will help the forest department and suppliers to implement environmentally friendly tourism.
Anshu Kashid
Pune | May 23, 2025: In a decisive step to preserve the environment and heritage of Pune’s iconic Sinhagad Fort, the Forest Department, in collaboration with the Joint Forest Management Committee, will impose a plastic ban starting June 1. The initiative follows a recent review meeting led by District Collector Jitendra Dudi, where growing plastic pollution and illegal encroachments around the fort were discussed.
Deepak Pawar, Assistant Forest Conservator of the Pune Forest Division, confirmed that while the ban was expected to take effect immediately, the department has sought a short preparation period to ensure effective rollout. “We needed time to coordinate with vendors, inform tourists, and prepare a solid waste alternative,” Pawar said.
Visitors of Sinhagad Fort from next month will have to pay a refundable charge for plastic water bottles. Should they discover plastic garbage left behind during their visit, they run the danger of paying fines upon leaving.
Sinhagad is among Pune’s most visited forts, especially during the monsoon, and the district administration is anticipating a surge in footfall. A survey conducted last month revealed that Sinhagad is the only fort in Pune with active encroachments, prompting the Collector to issue directives for both plastic control and removal of unauthorized structures.
To ensure the ban is enforced, the Forest Department held a meeting with local vendors on May 18 and formed a monitoring committee responsible for both plastic regulation and broader tourism management.
Authorities believe the ban will significantly reduce pollution and restore the ecological balance of this historic hill fort.
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