Pune's Urban Forest Valued at Staggering Rs14.6 Lakh Crore Annually in Environmental Services
A comprehensive research study led by Priti Mastakar from the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics has revealed that Pune's Vetal Tekdi provides environmental services worth approximately Rs14,60,000 crore ($171.35 billion) per year. This groundbreaking valuation directly challenges the rationale behind proposed infrastructure projects that threaten this vital urban ecosystem.
Quantifying Nature's Contribution to Urban Life
The report, published in the Athens Journal of Sciences in March 2026, positions Vetal Tekdi as Pune's essential "green lungs" amidst rapid urbanization pressures. Mastakar emphasized that the study aims to support legal arguments against construction and tunneling projects proposed under the banner of development that would destroy this environmental treasure.
"A country's economy is measured through Gross Domestic Product," Mastakar explained. "Similarly, there are numerous tools to assess the valuation of environmental services of an ecosystem in monetary terms. After multi-crore projects were proposed on Vetal Tekdi promising to help cut travel time, and save energy and money, we wanted to conduct a study which tells us the monetary value of all the services the hill gives us but we take for granted."
Detailed Breakdown of Environmental Services
Through extensive field work and environmental economics methodologies including contingent valuation, hedonic pricing, expert opinion, travel cost analysis, and market price evaluation, the research team quantified the services provided by the 10.5 square kilometer hill ecosystem:
- Aquifer Dominance: Water storage valued at Rs14,62,000 crore from 73,143 crore liters of water, supplying one-third of Pune's water needs
- Wetland Services: Valued at Rs98.28 crore from 4.9 crore liters of water
- Carbon Sequestration: Valued at Rs16 lakh annually
- Oxygen Production: Valued at Rs6.69 crore per year
- Biodiversity Support: Valued at Rs1.54 crore for odonates, butterflies and birds
- Heritage Values: Vetal temple adds Rs7.44 crore, Hanuman temple contributes Rs1.07 crore
Infrastructure Proposals Face Mounting Opposition
The Pune Municipal Corporation has proposed three major projects for Vetal Tekdi: the Balbharati-Paud Phata Link Road, tunnels, and a high capacity mass transit route (elevated inner ring road). These plans have faced vehement protests from residents, with Mastakar's report providing scientific reinforcement to conservation crusaders.
"If we include the land market price for this area, the total value reaches Rs16,50,000 crore," Mastakar stated. "No development project can give us services that surpass this amount."
Beyond Monetary Value: Cultural and Health Benefits
The study revealed additional dimensions of Vetal Tekdi's importance. Methane-eating bacteria thrive in its wetlands and quarries, while residents regularly visit for exercise, mental peace, and photography. The research found that most people were willing to pay between Rs500 and Rs1,000 for the conservation of the tekdi.
"People go there for exercise, mental peace and photography," Mastakar noted. "If we do the cost-benefit analysis of various proposed projects, we will realise that no project can compensate for the loss of environmental services given by the tekdi."
Rigorous Research Methodology
The study was conducted between December 2024 and July 2025 by a multidisciplinary team including Atharva Kulkarni, Dhruvika Lakhmani, Harsh Uttam, Sibani Singh, MK Darshan, Robia Kshetrimayum, Srushti Pradhan, Swara Bakshi, Swastik Indalkar, Deboleena Nasker, Miheer Karandikar, Munib Ahmad, Padmaja Uttawar and Rupali Sharma from various institutes. The research underwent six months of peer review before publication.
Mastakar expressed hope that this pioneering study would advance the valuation of urban forests, which are typically undermined and sacrificed for urbanization. The Rs14.6 lakh crore annual valuation represents the aggregated environmental services without including land price, creating a powerful economic argument for conservation that infrastructure proponents must now address.
