Green Hills Group has been working for last 15 years in rain water harvesting and tree plantation in Pune. Initially for 5 to 6 years, we worked as a small group and then registered as a trust called Green Hills Group. We have a panel of eight trustees and lot of devoted nature lovers. Some of us are retired persons having different background – bankers , engineers , businessman etc, some of us are still at college and some are still working. All of us carry a dream and have mission impossible ahead of us – we want to make hills around Pune Green!
Ensuring adequate water at hill top require lot of commitment from individuals and lot of team work from everyone. The success in this journey is very slow and is not visible to society for 5 to 6 years. We could manage to overcome many obstacles till now. With faith in nature god we are sure of achieving our dream.
The Chatushrungi hill is located behind one of the oldest temple near university of Pune . Since 2005, we are planting and nurturing trees on this hill. We are converting more than 30 acres of Barren land into greenery. Till now have planted more than eight thousand trees , most of the trees are getting water using drip irrigation system. Many corporates and individual are contributing in this work. Young and energetic volunteers visit the hill every week end.
More than 10 km of CCT (Continuous Contour Trenches) are dug on the hill. This helps in stopping soil erosion and water harvesting. There are more than 8 water tanks on the hill. Till April 2019 trees were getting water by water tanker. But from 2019 , FirstData company have helped in installing water pumping system . Now water is pumped from temple well to hill top. All the tanks are connected.
Retired forest officer late Shree Takalkar had introduced us to CCT technique. In this technique we mark the points which are at same level and then dig trench connecting those points. Most of the trenches are dug by labor . Getting labor on hill top is very difficult and costly . We are forced make use of earth excavator machine for digging few trenches.
More than 5000 plants get water using drip irrigation system . Getting good plumber on hilltop is very difficult and costly . Many time our committed members do this work. Typically plant need water in summer for first three years . Drip system makes optimum use of water.