The Tansa Valley is only 60 ಮಹಾರಾಷ್ಟ್ರದ ಮುಂಬೈನಿಂದ ಕಿ.ಮೀ. ಆದರೆ ಏಷ್ಯಾದ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಬಿಸಿ ಗಂಧಕದ ಬುಗ್ಗೆಗಳನ್ನು ಆತಿಥ್ಯ ವಹಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಅನೇಕರಿಗೆ ಪವಿತ್ರ ತಾಣವಾಗಿದೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸ್ನಾನ ಮಾಡಲು ಮತ್ತು ಗುಣಮುಖರಾಗಲು ಅನೇಕ ಜನರು ಇಲ್ಲಿಗೆ ಬರುತ್ತಾರೆ. The indigenous tribal communities living here have a philosophy deeply rooted in Nature and the other subsequent religious groups also respect and worship the natural bounty of the place.
The Road that brings you into the valley. ಫೋಟೋ: Angana Jhaveri
Sign this petition against the logging of 3000 iconic and sacred trees that gird the entrance road to the Tansa Valley.
Temple remains and beautiful sculptures, particularly of silahara period located in deep jungles have been graphically described. Apart from the archaeological wealth of Tansa Valley, religious and social customs along with the rich tribal art of the valley have been scientifically documented, see Arun Khumars Book on Heritage of the Tansa Valley.
The valley lies very close to the Wildlife Sanctuary Tungarshwar, that houses large mammals such as leopards. Protecting this valley from unplanned development is important for several ecological reasons:
- It forms the water shed for the city of Mumbai and most of the drinking water supply for Mumbai comes from the lakes and rivers here
- It is an important geo thermal zone which lies on fault lines that caused the sulphur springs
- It is the buffer to the wildlife sanctuary and can provide a corridor for wildlife
- It is home to indigenous communities that will surely perish if the area gets urbanised
There have been several efforts to get the government to give it a protected area status – the Ecologically Sensitive Area status would allow some development without harming the natural resources. The Supreme Court has now insisted that state governments declare buffer zones around sanctuaries and so there is some hope. However the delay in this declaration is allowing roads and highways to come in now.
This road expansion will destroy nearly 3000 fully grown trees. Over the last week interest groups have mobilised around 900 signatures on an online petition and more signatures are still needed:
Have a look at the Facebook Page on the Valley and its trees and an album for the trees.
