Restoration & Rejuvenation of Datuni Hills Began on Wednesday
Indore: Restoration and rejuvenation work at Datuni Hills began on Wednesday as the Forest Department initiated plantation and ecological recovery measures in coordination with the Police Department and local citizens. The programme marked the start of planned intervention to protect hill ecology near Indore city.
Datuni Hill formed part of a hill range that included Devguradiya, Ralamandal, Rann Bhawar and Renuka Hills. The hills lay close to Indore’s urban boundary and supported groundwater recharge, soil stability and biodiversity.
The Datuni Hills area fell under the Datuni Firing Range managed by the Police Department and covered about 83 hectares. In the first phase, restoration and plantation work was taken up on 25 hectares under the Forest Department’s Hill Conservation Project. The project focused on degraded hill areas affected by mining, encroachment and unregulated land use.
Planned Restoration Zones
Pradeep Mishra, IFS, Divisional Forest Officer, Indore (SF), said restoration work was planned with defined conservation objectives. He said the project included creation of a Police Smriti Vatika as a commemorative plantation area to associate police personnel with long-term protection of the hill landscape.
Mishra said additional plantation zones included a RET Vatika for Rare, Endangered and Threatened plant species, a Phal Vatika for fruit-bearing species and an Aushadhi Vatika for medicinal plants. Bamboo plantation was initiated along foothill slopes to control soil erosion and stabilise soil.
“Hill ecosystems require scientific planning and sustained protection. Restoration is effective only with coordination between departments and participation of local communities,” Mishra said.
Need for Maintenance and Regulation
Padma Shri awardee Janak McGilligan Palta said hill conservation was linked to water security and environmental balance. She said restoration efforts required regular maintenance, monitoring and regulation to ensure long-term survival of plantations and protection of hill areas.
“Community involvement is necessary for long-term protection,” Palta said.
Senior police officers, forest officials, members of Green Army Dewas and environmental experts attended the programme. Officials said community participation would continue during implementation and monitoring.
The restoration and rejuvenation of Datuni Hills formed part of the Forest Department’s wider hill conservation effort aimed at regulating land use and protecting hill ecosystems around Indore.