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Indian Express
16 hours ago
- General
- Indian Express
‘Each tree is worth over one crore': Raghunath Maruti Dhole on his remarkable conservation model
Written by Kivi Lydia Vito 'When I was a child, I saw my mother cooking with firewood. I realised she was cutting trees to feed me. Our 400 generations did this for survival, and now it is my duty to replant,' says Raghunath Maruti Dhole, 69, reflecting on his forest conservation journey. Today he is responsible for a veritable revolution in the preservation of native plants in Pune. Through the Devrai Foundation, Dhole has been working to revive barren land using the model of the Devrai, sacred groves traditionally protected by local communities for spiritual reasons. Though the Naigaon-based Foundation was registered in 2013, Dhole's personal efforts date back to the 1980s. Dhole and his team including close friends–Dhananjay Shedbale, Suresh Namaji Shinde, and Uday Bhanudas Gujar–his wife and children developed a plantation model featuring between 119 and 190 native species of trees and plants. These species are drawn from sacred groves where no planting or cutting has taken place for centuries, reflecting the region's original biodiversity. 'We studied sacred groves from different regions and created a plantation plan for one acre of land, selecting 119 appropriate native species from a pool of 500,' Dhole explained. Speaking about the importance of preserving native plants and the ecological consequences of losing these native plants, he says, 'If a species of tree vanishes, one butterfly species also vanishes because each tree depends on pollination.' He continues, 'Some 40 years ago, I planted two eucalyptus trees and later found out they were exotic. At the time, I didn't know which species were native and which were not,' Dhole said. Highlighting these common planting mistakes, Dhole says, 'Palash is a native tree that attracts many birds, butterflies, and honey bees but instead, we are planting Gulmohar, which is not native to India and provides no food or support to local wildlife.' He adds that many non-native species introduced during British colonial times are vulnerable to heavy rain and winds, undermining the ecosystem's stability. The foundation offers saplings and guidance free of cost but only to those who have one acre of land, water and protection ready. 'Planting is just 1 per cent of the job, growing the tree is 99 per cent. If we charge for saplings, we turn nature into a business. That must be avoided,' Dhole emphasises. He continues, 'So far, we have contributed to 414 sacred groves on barren lands in places like Solapur, Sangli, Amravati, Kolhapur and beyond Maharashtra in Bhopal, Gujarat, Calcutta, and Goa. We have also created more than 80 ghanwans (dense forest), over 200 tree libraries, and set up 18 types of nurseries.' Dhole recounted once sending 43 saplings to Noida by plane, emphasising that roots can be safely wrapped and replanted when they reach their destination. The foundation has donated 3.4 million saplings, with a 70 per cent survival rate, over two million trees still thriving. 'If you multiply that by what a single tree gives back in terms of oxygen, pollution control, soil regeneration, each tree is worth over one crore. This is real wealth,' he adds. In educational outreach, the foundation has also created over 200 tree libraries for schools. These mini-forests feature potted plants with informative cards giving details such as botanical names, flowering periods, and medicinal uses, encouraging students to connect with nature. While acknowledging the inevitability of urbanisation, he believes a balance is possible, he says, 'If a tree must be cut for a road or building we can't avoid it but plant a hundred elsewhere. Go to your native village and invest in trees there.' He urges a return to responsibility towards the land that sustains us. 'Everyone has come from somewhere where the land has given us water, food, and childhood. It is time to repay it.' Operating without external funding, the foundation remains community- driven. 'Everyone has to repay the earth in some way. That is why we created Devrai Foundation, to ensure this work continues after I am gone,' Dhole says. Dhole's commitment is global in outlook. 'If a person wants to plant in Goa or China, let them. Trees do not recognise borders. They are a global asset.' 'What I've learned in 40 years is that people love plants but they just need direction, the right saplings and a reason to start,' he says. He continues, 'This is not charity. We cannot eat money or gold but we can eat fruit, breathe clean air, and drink water. All of this comes from trees. Nature is not asking for charity. It is asking us to remember who we are.'
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
PMC intensifies crackdown against plastic bags; over Rs 1 crore collected in fines since October last year
(Written by Kivi Lydia Vito) The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has intensified its crackdown on the use of banned plastic items, collecting over Rs 1.04 crore in fines and seizing 8,090 kg of bags and other items between October 2024 and May 2025. As many as 2,074 violations were also recorded during this period. Single-use plastic remains a common sight in many markets, with vendors citing the lack of alternatives and demands from customers as major hurdles. As per PMC data, inspections have increased significantly across high-density commercial areas. 'Our key targeted areas include Mahatma Phule Mandai, Laxmi Road, Ravivar Peth, Market Yard, Tulsi Baug, and zones with street vendors. Our flying squads concentrate on places with lots of markets and shops, and we have intensified raids in mutton and chicken markets, tourist spots, etc,' said Sandip Kadam, deputy commissioner, solid waste management, PMC. 'We are targeting not only retailers, but also manufacturers and distributors who supply banned plastic. Simply penalising shopkeepers is not enough. Breaking the supply chain is key to effective enforcement,' he added. Kadam confirmed that some vendors have also been fined multiple times, 'We follow the official fines stipulated: Rs 5,000 for the first offence, Rs 10,000 for the second, and Rs 25,000 for repeat offenders. There are some repeat cases, but we haven't seen resistance from anyone yet.' However, on the ground, vendors say that compliance is difficult due to customer demands and lack of options. Imtiaz Khan, a meat vendor, explained, 'Our choices are really limited. Paper bags simply aren't good enough to hold the meat properly. Even though plastic bags are more costly, I still have to use them because if I put the meat in a paper bag, it can fall out before the customer even reaches home. It's not just about convenience but about making sure the product reaches its destination.' Sharing the same concern, a vegetable vendor said, 'I can't put potatoes in a paper bag because they are too heavy and the bag will tear easily. We tried using paper bags for a while but they often get ripped when holding wet or heavy items. Most customers do not bring bags, so we had to switch back to plastic bags even if they might not be legal because we do not have many options.' A shopkeeper said, 'At first we completely switched to paper bags because of the new rules, but many customers told us that their items kept falling out because the paper bags were not strong enough, and caused a lot of problems for them. Now, we keep a small number of plastic bags ready for customers who ask. It is hard to say no when they insist. But thankfully, most of my regular customers have started bringing bags from home.' The PMC said enforcement is only one part of the solution. It has been promoting eco-friendly alternatives such as cloth, jute, and certified compostable bags through awareness drives and collaborations with local self-help groups. Acknowledging the challenges, Kadam said, 'Affordable alternatives are limited, and consumer behaviour remains hard to shift. We understand the economic strain that small vendors face. That is why we are working to ensure that more affordable and accessible alternatives are available.' Kivi Lydia Vito is an intern with The Indian Express.
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Artists to sing, dance for cultural unity in Colombo concert
Written by Kivi Lydia Vito Artists are convinced that a world torn by conflict can find healing through art. On June 3, an initiative in that direction will unfold in the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. The Sadbhavana musical campaign is the brainchild of Sri Lankan musician and filmmaker Darshana Ruwan Dissanayake, aiming to promote cultural unity through the power of music. This year, it will feature two Pune-based artists, singer Nivedita Dutta and Kathak dancer Suryatapa Ghosh Roy. The Sadbhavana musical campaign is now in its second season. Dutta has co-written and performed the campaign's title song, Sadbhavana, with Sri Lankan lyricist Vathsalya Samarakoon. It has been composed by Darshana Ruwan Dissanayake. The track is in both Hindi and Sinhalese to highlight shared cultural roots. 'Being part of the campaign is an honour. It's not just about the music but it's about bringing people and cultures together at a time when the world needs unity the most,' says Dutta. On speaking about the song, Dutta added, 'It's a song that speaks of love, peace, unity and values that transcend borders. Though India and Sri Lanka are separated by the sea, we share a cultural and emotional bond that goes back to the roots of the Indus Valley Civilisation.' Ghosh Roy is equally enthusiastic about the potential of the campaign to encourage harmony among nations. 'It's a proud moment for me to represent India through Kathak. Classical dance plays a vital role in expressing cultural identity and harmony,' said Ghosh Roy. 'We are showcasing India's artistic diversity through both music and dance. I have been trained in the Jaipur gharana, which offers a rhythmic expression that complements the song's message; this performance aims to reflect that cultural depth,' she added. (Kivi Lydia Vito is an intern with The Indian Express.)
Indian Express
13-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
CBSE results: Pune region pass percentage: 96.54% in Class 10 & 90.93% in Class 12
By Soham Shah & Kivi Lydia Vito The Pune region has recorded 96.54 per cent pass rate in the CBSE Class 10 results declared on Tuesday. This places Pune fifth among the 16 CBSE regions nationwide. Thiruvananthapuram ranked first with 99.79 per cent pass rate, followed by Vijaywada, Bengaluru and Chennai. The Pune region encompasses CBSE schools in Maharashtra, Goa, Daman, and Diu. In Maharashtra, 1,17,237 students appeared for the exams, with 1,13,257 clearing it. The state recorded a pass percentage of 96.61. The state has 1,367 CBSE schools and 408 board exam centres. In Pune region overall 1,20,588 students registered for the Class 10 exam while 1,20,288 actually appeared for it with 1,16,123 out of them clearing the exam. Boys secured a pass percentage of 95.96 per cent while girls recorded a pass rate of 97.30 per cent. Class 12 results The Pune region recorded a 90.93 per cent pass rate in the CBSE Class 12 results declared on Tuesday. The region ranked ninth in the country. The first place was bagged by Vijayawada followed by Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi West, Delhi East, Chandigarh, and Panchkula. Pune finished three spots lower than last year, when it was ranked sixth. Pune ranked eighth in 2023 and 12th in 2022. In Maharashtra, 34,703 students appeared for the exams out of which 31,468 (90.68 percent) passed the exams. Girls in Pune region secured a pass percentage of 92.97 per cent while boys secured a pass rate of 89.17 per cent. A total of 37,175 students from the Pune region enrolled for the exam, out of which 36,995 appeared for the exam and 33,639 cleared it.
