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Importance of Lakes Potentatial for Development of Ecotourism in Pune

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Sengupta, M. and Dalwani, R. (Editors). 2008
Proceedings of Taal2007: The 12th World Lake Conference: 1186-1196

Importance of Lakes Potential for Development of Ecotourism in Pune

District
Mir Mehrdad Mirsanjari1 ,Kambiz A.Angali2, K.N.Dhumal3 and R. S. Gavali4
1
Department of Environmental Sciences Academic Staff, University of Malayer, MSRT, Iran,
2
Department of Statistics,
3
Department of Botany,
4
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Pune-India, Pune – 411007
Email: mmmirsanjari@unipune.ernet.in, ahmadi@unipune.ernet.in, dhumal@unipune.ernet.in ,
rsgavali@unipune.ernet.in

ABSTRACT

Tourism or ecotourism is inherent desire of human beings, which developed with the progress of human
civilization. Every man on this planet earth is very fond of tourism, hence always attracted towards
nature. The mountains, hills, valleys, oceans, rivers, lakes, islands, waterfalls, forests, wild animals,
birds, butterflies etc. have become important attractions for the ecotourists. The improved standard of
life and economic status of middle class society has brought ecotourism within their reach. At present
there is pressing demand for planned, well-developed and perfectly managed ecotourism.
India is truly famous for hospitality. "Atithi Deo Bhav", means the visitors or guests are
equal to God in Indian culture due to which India become the top most place for ecotourism in
the world. The diverse culture, rich bio diversity, conductive climate, greenery and the
peaceful as well as spiritual mind of the Indian people have become the main attractions for
ecotourism.
The pleasant weather, natural lakes, green hills, beautiful valleys, enriched caves, forts
and sanctuaries are the main attractions for ecotourists in and around Pune district.
The IT –BT intellectuals, industrial talents as well as students from abroad in Pune will
be highly promising ecotourists in future. Hence there is an urgent need to investigate the
hidden potential of ecotourism management and sustainable development. Collection of
revenue from ecotourism will become the lion's share of Pune Municipal Corporation. Not
only this, but it also become the potential area of employment to rural people and youth.
Ecotourism development may become pivotal for socioeconomic transformation of villages
with natural ecotourism sites.
This research incorporates the different parameters of Environmental Impact Assessment
of human development and mainly deals with relationship between environmental parameters
like frequency and attendance alternations, location and distance parameters. In this research
seven impacts and seventeen present potential for six sites were analyzed.

INTRODUCTION without compromising the ability of future

In 1980s, alternative forms of tourism have attracted
the interest of governments, communities and
scholars. These were given different names like
nature tourism, soft tourism, responsible tourism,
green tourism, ecotourism (Schaller, 1999). Among
these, the term ecotourism has become prominent,
although a consistent definition is by no means
found. Most definitions do, however, incorporate
concepts associated with sustainable development.
Under Sustainable development, attempts were
made to integrate economic development with
ecological sustainability (Redclift, 1987). The
researchers like Zurick (1992), Dearden (1991) and
Hunter and Green (1995) accepted the definition of
ecotourism given by World Commission on
Environment and Development. According to them
development that meets the needs of the present,
generations to meet their own needs (WCED,
1987) is known as ecotourism.
Many research workers now agreed that
ecotourism is a two-way link between tourism and
environmental conservation (Valentine, 1993;
Cater, 1994). As the understanding of the close
relationships between tourism and environmental
conservation increased, the researchers are now
calling on ecotourism industry to incorporate
economic development as a fundamental element
of conservation (West and Brechin, 1991).
Ecotourism involves travel for the discovery
of learning about wild natural environments.
Wilderness travel is the personal re-creation
through traveling in natural environments that are
devoid of human disturbances. While the adventure
travel is personal accomplishment through the
thrills of dominating dangerous environments.
Among the various subdivisions of nature based
tourism, ecotourism is the fastest growing tourism
submarket.
The growth of ecotourism primarily involved
the travel by Europeans and North Americans to all
parts of the world. Eagles and Wind (1994) reported
that Canadian ecotour companies visited fifty
different countries in 1992.
Recently, with rapidly developing economies in Asia,
ecotourists from these countries are entering the
market as consumers. The experience is expanding
with the increase in number of parks. There is now a
worldwide increase in nature travel market, (Zurick,
1992). Ecotourism has an idealistic agenda, defined
by Drumm (1991) as progressive, educational travel,
which conserves the environment and benefits local
communities.
The synonyms of eco-tourism are given below:
environment friendly tourism , nature tourism, green
tourism, scientific tourism, cottage tourism, wildlife
tourism, wilderness tourism, safari tourism, designer
tourism, hard tourism, risk tourism, adventure
tourism etc.
In 1987, Ceballos-Lascurain defined the ecotourism
as ecological tourism or ecotourism involving
traveling to relatively undisturbed or uncontaminated
natural areas, with the specific aims of studying,
admiring and enjoying the scenery and its wild plants
and animals, as well as any existing cultural aspects
found in these areas. In fact, train journeys to the
first North American national parks in the late
nineteenth century were called as ecotourism
(National Audubon Society, 1991). Johnson (1967)
reported heavy over-use of the North American
national parks, with traffic congestion and the
resulting impacts was erosion and the loss of
wilderness.
In recent years Blamey (1997), Fennell (1998),
Fennell and Eagles (1989), Orams (1995),
Swarbrooke and Horner (1999) and Valentine (1993)
have modified, extended and developed many new
definitions of ecotourism. The definitions of
ecotourism are broad in scope. Ecotourism includes
conservation, education, local ownership, and
economic benefit for local communities, the
relevance of cultural resources, minimum impacts
and sustainability. The ecotourism must determine a
visitor’s status as an ecotourist and encompass the
social motive.
Eco-Tourism in Pune District
Pune, earlier famous as Poona is one of the most
important cities of Western India, aptly called as
Queen of Deccan. The city is nicknamed variously
such as Pensioners' paradise, the Oxford of East,
Detroit of India, the Cultural Capital of Maharashtra,
once the Cycle City and now the Two Wheelers' City
of India and upcoming as IT-BT Center of India.
Pune is said to be the fourth greenest city in India.
Currently it has more than thirty-four lakh trees.
The major-forested areas of the city include Katraj ,
Sinhagad valley, Lonavala , Kandrala, Mulshi ,
Bhimashankar and Ane-malsei Ghats. Beautiful
natural green areas are surrounding the city,the
Queen of Deccan. These natural attractions consist
of some hills , green areas and specially some lakes
like Mulshi, Khadakwasala , Lonavla, Katraj,
Valvan, Pashan , Bhugaon etc.which have become
the famous natural eco tourism view points of
Pune district. A total of 102 flowering plant
species, 130 bird species, 15 mollusks and
uncountable forms of insects have been recorded in
and around the Pune district.
OBJECTIVES
Considering the above mentioned aspects of
ecotourism, the present investigation was
undertaken with following objectives.
i) To study natural attractions at different lakes
as ecotourism sites in Pune district.
ii) To investigate positive and negative impacts of
ecotourists on ecotourism sites.
iii) Long term planning and models for sustainable
development and management of ecotourism
potential at Bhugaon Lake.
Assessment of Ecotourism Potential in Pune
District
The environmental assessment for ecotourism
potential its sustainable development, management
and strategies for future planning are the crucial
factors in ecotourism development. There are many
parameters for assaying the environmental impact
of ecotourism development e.g. frequency and
attendance, location, distance etc. The assessment
of ecotourism potential in Pune district was done
with seven different parameters of ecotourism
potential. The formal and informal assessment and
standard tests were used for knowing the
ecotourism potential of Pune district.
Environmental assessment, in any form, is a
necessary component of effective ecotourism
development. This assessment should be
manageable and used as a guide for instructions,
planning and development of ecotourism sites. The
assessments should also provide data to measure
environmental performance and the effectiveness
of planning. Both daily formal and informal
assessment and standardized tests must correlate
with the standards of development and ecotourism
potential.
The geographical diversity of Maharashtra
state and Pune district provides many opportunities
for ecotourism activities. The district like Pune has
a very high ecotourism potential.
Pune is one of the most important cities of
Maharashtra which is aptly called as the Queen of
1187
Deccan. Its climate and surrounding natural sites
made it as the best district for providing ecotourism
facilities.Along with many natural ecotourism sites
Pune is surround by several beautiful lakes like
Mulshi, Khadakwasala, Katraj ,Bhushi, Valvan ,
Pashan , Bhougaon etc. These lakes are the best
ecotourism sites of Pune district.
Hence in this research, six ecotourism sites were
surveyed in detail. These sites were located in
different directions e.g. west and south of Pune city.
Most of the ecotourism potential in Pune district is in
west and south of Pune which have the best
attractions as the green area, hills and rivers.
Mulshi lake, Bhugaon lake, Bhushi lake and
Valvan lake are in west direction of pune and Katraj
lake and Khadakwasala lake are in south direction of
Pune district. The six different ecotourism sites
(lakes) were assessed and compared on the basis of
different parameters for finding their potential for
ecotourism.
The assessment was done on the basis of
following parameters: frequency of visitors coming
to these sites with family, with friends, with guests
and with colleagues, the distance of each lake from
Pune station, and present facilities at each site.
The best ecotourism potential of these six lakes
was investigated through sample based survey and by
using questionnaire and different statistical tests and
methods for their development were also suggested.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Basic information about present situation was
collected by surveying the six ecotourism potential
lakes of Pune district located in west and south of
Pune city.
The Mulshi lake, Bhugaon lake, Bhushi lake
and Valvan lake are located to the west side of Pune
while the lakes like katraj and Khadakwasala are
situated toward southern site of Pune city.
Selected Questionnaire
Following questionnaire was used to analyze the
ecotourism potential of six different lakes. The
answers given by the visitors to this questionnaire
were statistically analyzed and used to determine the
ecotourism potential.
1. Sex, Age, income group
2. When you visit the lake? (Sunday,
Tuesday, Holiday)
3. What is your frequency of visit? (Weekly,
Fortnightly, Monthly, Yearly)
4. Along with whom you visit the lake?
(Family, friends, guests, colleagues)
5. What you feel when you visit this place?
6. How much distance you have to travel to
come to this site?
7. What activities you prefer when you come
here?
1188
8. Do you know what the Eco-Tourism is?
9. Whether you need some facilities for
dumping junk?
10. How the Eco-Tourism development will
help to local people?
11. Whether you want jogging/walking
facility around the lake?
12. Whether you like yoga and meditation
facility to be here?
13. What kind of facilities you require here
for children?
14. What type of garden/plantation you
suggest for this area?
15. Whether you will pay any entry ticket
fees, after developing good Eco-Tourism
facility?
16. What kind of food you prefer? (traditional,
village food, self host group (SHG) )
17. Any new suggestions for maintenance and
development of the lake?
Present Potential of Eco Tourism Activities
For using the Ecotourism EIA of six lakes (sites)
present potential of ecotourism activities have been
used for assessment of impacts on the ecotourism
sites. Approximately seventeen criteria were used
to analyze the ecotourism potential of all the six
different lakes which are given below.
Tourist camping area, Walking way on hill,
Children park, Yoga centre, Wild life, Green area
planning, Water park, Dump junk and disposal
waste, Boating, Swimming, Fishing, Spiritual and
meditation centre, Traditional activities, Traveling
and parking, Weather, temperature, humidity,
Season and rainfall etc. Each of these factors in
each of lakes has one number, 1: strongly positive,
2: slightly positive, 3: ambivalent, 4: slightly
negative, and 5: strongly negative.
CRITERIA AND DATA ANALYSIS
The ecotourism impact criteria represent seven
important factors that may be affected by the
tourism in all ecotourism sites. Each of the seven
criteria used in the present study was objectively
scored after revision of the entire study sites. These
seven criteria were subsequently numerically coded
for the analysis. This table lists the properties of
each criterion with its coding scheme and number
of studies ,which fall into each category. Detailed
information on each criterion and relevant
references are given below.
Ecotourism Attractions, (Criteria A)
Criterion A is for natural support for protection and
management of natural areas, it assesses the amount
of monetary support that tourism directly contributes
to conservation of the area in which the tourism takes
place.
Criterion A contains five categories of strongly
positive, slightly positive, ambivalent, slightly
negative, and strongly negative.
area disturbed by traveling frequency or parking
region would still be considered pristine by this
rating scale, unless the effect was because of
tourism (directly or indirectly).
Criterion G contains five categories like
perfect protection, slight or infrequent intrusion,
frequent intrusion, blatant abuse, no protection.
The table 1. mentioned seven criteria of
impact of ecotourism were given five different
scales like.

Environmental Quality, (Criterion B) Table 1: Ecotourism impact criteria

It deals with the quality of environment. Criterion Scaling Number

Environmental status of the ecotourism potential of A) Ecotourism Strongly positive 1
the particular site is assessed by this criterion. Attractions Slightly positive 2
Criterion B includs five categories like perfect Ambivalent 3
protection, slight or infrequent intrusion, frequent Slightly negative 4
intrusion, blatant abuse, no protection. Strongly negative 5
B) Environmental Perfect protection 1
Quality Slight or infrequent 2
Amazing Area and Views, (Criterion C)
intrusion
Frequent intrusion 3
Amazing area and views rates are determined by this Blatant abuse 4
criterion. It also including five categories of: pristine, No protection 5
slight effects, moderate negative effects, tremendous C) Amazing Area Pristine 1
negative effects, strongly negative. and Views Slight effects 2
Moderate negative 3
Frequency and Attendance Alternation, (Criterion effects
D) Tremendous negative 4
effects
Favorable local attitudes towards ecotourism, follows Strongly negative 5
closely with frequency and attendance alternation and D) Frequency and >85% support 1
may be associated with the stage of tourism Attendance 45-85% support 2
Alternation <45% support 3
development at the site.
Some or potential 4
Criterion D contains five categories like >85%
support
support, 45-85% support, <45% support, some
No support 5
potential support or no support. E) Compression >85% support 1
on Places 45-85% support 2
Compression on Places, (Criterion E) <45% support 3
Some or potential 4
This criterion measures how much, if any, loss of support
nature occur due to the presence of tourism in the No support 5
area. F) Native Strongly positive 1
Criterion E contains five categories like >85% Economic Slightly positive 2
support, 45-85% support, <45% support, some or Ambivalent 3
potential support, no support Slightly negative 4
Strongly negative 5
Native Economic, (Criterion F) G) Flora and Perfect protection 1
Fauna Slight or infrequent 2
intrusion
Economic benefits for local residents, rates the direct
Frequent intrusion 3
employment of locals in the tourism industry,
Blatant abuse 4
including hotels, lodges, tourist restaurants, etc. No protection 5
Criterion F contains five categories like strongly
positive, slightly positive, and ambivalent slightly 1-Strongly positive 2- Slightly positive 3-
negative, strongly negative. Ambivalent 4- Slightly negative 5- Strongly
negative .These scales were used with seventeen
Flora and Fauna, (Criterion G) characters of potential of ecotourism activities.
To carry out Environmental Impact
This criterion analyzes the effects that have arisen Assessment (EIA) these were reduced into three
specifically because of ecotourism. For example, an category, consisting of: Positive, Ambivalant and

1189
negative. The characters of six selected lake and third The various lakes of Pune district have a great
column gave 95% confidence internal for each potential of ecotourism. If this potential is
proportion. developed and managed efficiently these lakes will
become very soon the best ecotourism sites in Pune
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION district. This development will bring
socioeconomic transformation in people of the
Most Common Plant Species at Selected Ecotourism nearby villages. With this view about six different
Sites lakes were surveyed and assessed with different
analysis to find out their ecotourism potential. The
During the surveying in ecotourism potential in Pune list of selected lakes is given below.
district. The different plants have been investigated. 1) Mulshi lake
The list of common trees and green area in pune city 2) Khdakwasala lake
is given in table 2. 3) Katraj lake
4) Bhushi lake
Ecotourism Potential of Selected Lakes 5) Bhugaon lake
6) Valvan lake

Table 2. Plant Species of Visitors Attraction of Pune District

Sr. Botanical Name Family Vernacular Name / Flowering Attraction for Visitors
no Local name fruiring
1 Bombax Ceiba L. Bombacaceae Sawar Jan to Jun Tall deciduous tree, Scarlet red attractive
flowers
2 Phyllanthes emblica Euphorbiaceae Awala Jun to Dec Fruits are edible and medicinal.
3 Impatiens balsamina Linn. Balsaminaceae Terda Mar to Oct Pink rosy coloured flowers.
4 Boswellia serrata Roxb. burseraceae Saliguggul Jan to Jun Resin from bark is used in Ayurvedic
medicines
5 Azadirachta indica Juss. Mediaceae Kadulimb, Neem. Feb to Sep Bark, gum, leaves, flowers and fruits used in
medicines.
6 Sapindus laurifolius Vahl. Sapindaceae Ritha Oct to Feb Commnly cltiveted. Fruits used as soop for
washing golden ornaments.
7 Gliricidia sepium Kunth. Fabaceae Giripushpa Feb to Jun Planted in graders and along roodsides as
ornamestal.
8 Pongarnia Pinnata Linn. Fabaceae Karanja Mar to Aug Common along streams and river banks
9 Cassia fistula Linn. Fabaceae Bahava, Amaltas. Mar to Aug Pendant golden yellow coloured flowers. It is
also medicinal.
10 Delonix regia Hook. Fabaceae Gulmohor Feb to Nov Cultivated for orange coloured flowers.
11 Acaciaconcinna DC. Fabaceae Shikekai Mar to July Pods used in shampoo.
12 Acacia nilotica (L) willd. Fabaceae Babhul Jun to Feb Very common around fields
13 Albizia lebbeck L. Fabaceae Shirish Apr to Aug Avenue tree
14 Leucaena glauca L. Fabaceae Subabhul Jul to Oct Planted as avenue tree, leaves used as folder.
15 Terminalia tomentosa Roxb. Combretaceae Ain. Mar to Nov Common in hills.
16 Terminalia bellirica Roxb. Combretaceae Behda May to Nov Fruits used in' Triphala' churna.
17 Terminala chebula Retz. Combretaceae Hirda Mar to Nov Fruits used in 'Triphala' churna.
18 Terminala cuneata Roth. Combretaceae Arjuna Apr to Nov Back and gum used in Ayurvedic medicines
19 Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Myrtaceae Nilgiri Feb to May Planted as avenue tree.
20 Syzigium cumini Linn. Myrtaceae Jambhul Mar to Jul Berries ( Fruits) are edible
21 Memecylon umbellatum Brand Melastomaceae Arjuna Mar to Jul Flowers Fragrant
22 Ixora coccinea Linn. Rubiaceae - Jan to Nov Scarlet red coloured flowers
23 Mimusops elenghi Linn. Sapotaceae Bakul Dec to Apr Fragrant Flowers
24 Tectona grandis Linn. Verbenaceae Saag Jun to Dec Cultivated on large scale for furniture.
25 Carvia callosa Bremek Acanthaceae Karvee Feb to July Common along roadsides Flowers are
attractive
26 Euphorbia antiquorum Linn. Euphorbiaceae - Feb to May Native of south Africa but freqent on hill
slopes.
27 Mallotus phillipinersis Lam. Euphorbiaceae Kunkuphal Nov to Feb Fruits are used in Ayurvedic preparations
28 Ficus benghalensis Linn. Moraceae Wad Apr to Jun Planted along roodsides near villages.
29 Ficus religiosa Linn. Moraceae Pimpal Apr to Aug Religious tree
30 Dendrocalamus strictus Roxb. Poaceae Velu Oct to Jan Frequently under cultivation.
31 Mangifera indica Linn. Anacardiaceae Amba. Sep to Aug Fruits are edible
32 Butea frondosa Linn. Combretaceae Palas Feb to Jun "Flame of the forest" Orange coloured flowers.
33 Tamarindus indica Linn. Combretaceae Chinch Oct to Jun Fruits are edible.
34 Carissa carandus Roxb. Apocynaoeae Karvand Jan to Jun Fruits are edible
35 Michelia champaka Linn. Magnoliaceae Sonchapha Dec to Jun Sweet scented flowers.

1190
 Importance of Bhugaon Lake as a Sample For
Strategic Planning
During the survey of six different lakes around Pune
city, it was noted that Bhugaon lake was the best
ecotourism site for development of ecotourism
because of its two highly positive factors.
1. Distance to travel for the visitors to visit
Bhugaon lake, (68% of tourists come there
from less than 10 kilometers around)
2. Frequency and attendance alternations of
visitors. More than 61% of the visitors are
visiting Bhugaon lake weekly.
Frequency of Visitors to Bhugaon Lake
The data collected indicate that about 200 ecotourists
visit Bhugaon lake regularly per day. The number of
visitors and their frequency was depending on the
holidays, particular auspicious days, temperature,
season, rain fall and many other factors.
Road to Bhugaon Lake
The nine km road to Bhugaon lake is a narrow road
with uneven surface and has at least five sharp turns
at a steep gradient. These locations are potentially
accident-prone and require adequate warnings,
signage, and retaining walls for erosion control,
protective walls and ideally manned check posts.
The approach road faces unsafe conditions from
its both sides. On the mountain side there is cracking
rock and fast eroding soil, and on the valley side
there are no protective walls. The road width is too
narrow, occasionally quickly causing traffic jams at
the peak holiday times.
Mode of Transport to Bhugaon Lake
At present mainly private cars,two wheelers and
hired tourist vehicles are the only modes of transport
for the tourists to visit Bhugaon lake. The charges
per person from Pune to Bhugaon lake are
approximately Rs.50/- for a round trip . These
vehicles do not operate unless they run full and
therefore the travel time is uncertain. There are no
buses or mini –buses following an organized
schedule. There is no suitable public transport at
present for visiting this lake.
In addition to the road, there exist alternative
hilly routes for visiting the Bhugaon lake. But these
are popular only among the hikers and fitness
enthusiasts; these roads also lack adequate signage.
Parking Facility
The present parking facility is not enough to
accommodate sufficient number of vehicles on a
holiday or in the peak season of visitors. As a result,
parking and pulling out of vehicles becomes are
clumsy function, causing delays, noise and air
pollution. On holidays due to inadequate parking
space, vehicles are parked far away from entrance
on the approach road. This blocks the road and
causes bottlenecks. The entrance and exit to the
parking area are informal. There is also no any type
of controlling for parking of vehicles.
Main Entrance
The main entrance to Bhugaon lake is known as
Pune darwaja. But, this entrance lacks a proper gate
and hence the new visitors get puzzled. For
monitoring the entries of sites, this entrance gate
needs to be well designed with entry. Ticketing
windows and information guide windows will help
the visitors.
Guideline to Visitors
There is a lack of directional, informative and
instructional signage at Bhugaon lake, there is no
guiding map to guide the visitors, about the places
of interest and places of visits to Bhugaon lake .As
a result of this visitors are not able to enjoy all the
sites of Bhugaon lake.
The internal paths are not of good quality,
they are very narrow and do not necessarily lead to
all the important locations. The road surfaces are
worn out and uneven, thereby presenting risks of
falls and slippages of pedestrians. This condition
becomes very serious in monsoon, when the visitor
number actually tends to be high, for experiencing
the beautiful fogs torrential rains and greenery on
hills. The road linkages to each other and to
different points need to be identified by a distinctly
visible location map. Certain important areas such
as the south of lake have no access presently. If it is
made accessible visitors can enjoy this beautiful
site of the lake.
View Points
Several viewpoints are existing at Bhugaon lake for
ecotourism. But they need further development and
improvement. These view points require prominent
directional and informative signs. Some of the
viewpoints exist at the tip of cliff and are
potentially adventurous thrilling as well as risky
spots. They need large warning signs, manned
check posts as well as very sturdy and safety
railings.
The view points need facility to sit and walk
around them. The visitors should enjoy the beauty
of nature from these view points.
The viewpoints should have same specific
features e.g. facility to watch sunrise or sunset,
birds, lake view, clear sky etc.
1191
Night Time Visitors
Because of the specific altitude and the geographic
location of Bhugaon lake, fog prevails during rainy
and winter months of the year. The visitors come to
enjoy the fog during night time. But at present there
are no adequate streetlights and path lights. Lighting
at the viewing spots during night-time is not made
available. As a result of this the place is virtually
impossible to visit and use for night walk. The
visitors are therefore limited to daytime only.
In fact the nature is more enjoyable during night
e.g. movement of wild animals, night hunting,
fighting of animals for food etc. could be seen during
night time. But presently it is completely impossible
for the visitors
Existing Vegetation
The existing vegetation as well as plant biodiversity
is very rich around the lake and on the surrounding
the hills. Tree species are highly dominant, which
will attract the ecotourists because of their beautiful
flowers, green foliage shade hugeness fruits, etc.
Deforestation has caused soil erosion, and hence
there is heavy silting in lake every year during rainy
season. These hills require thick plantation to protect
soil erosion. The catchments area, the bunds and
surrounding sides of the lake require systematic tree
plantation. In future the dark green thick forest will
attract the visitors, nature walking persons, as well as
many birds, wild animals, reptiles, tigers and deer’s.
Existing tree and shrubs species include Jambhool,
Hirda , Fig, Rameta , Gela , Karanj, Silver oak, Palas,
Mango, Gulmohar, Suru, Nirgudi and Karwand. All
the trees are in healthy condition.
Facilities for Visitors
Some private owners offer lodging facilities, but
these are of very low standard. Lack of other basic
amenities including safety, security, night time
movement ease and lack of recreation facilities are
main constraints in the development of this
ecotourism center. The catering available
Food Stalls and Vendors
There are 33 small food stalls at present, run by the
villagers around the lake. About 100 casual vendors
of food items such as pot curd, buttermilk etc. are in
business. Most of the stalls are semi-permanent
nature and hence, the vendors operate in open. The
stall operation does not follow any laws or code,
hence these cannot be counted as a standard food
service for visitors. No proper drinking water facility.
These food stalls and vendors create plastic pollution,
the dump the garbage and food wastes on the roads.
1192
Sanitary and Waste Management Facility
Lots of wastes and garbage is generally collected,
which is not properly disposed. Proper drainage
and garbage disposal systems are totally absent.
The visitors throw the empty drinking water
bottles, plastic bags and generate plastic of
pollution. The waste products created by visitors
are up to 50 g. per day per person. Presently this
lake is under major threat of noise aiand plastic
pollution.
The environmental degradation rate at
Bhugaon lake is very high. The village women are
washing the clothes and utensils directly in the lake
as well as the milkmen was their daily animals like
buffalos and cows in the lake water directly.
Management and Revenues
This lake is managed by forest department,
government of Maharashtra. At present the
maintenance is totally dependent on the financial
support of forest department which is very
inadequate. Due to lack of financial support there is
no maintance of the lake. The present staff to look
after the activities of lake is also very insufficient.
The staff includes one forest officer ranger, one
forest guard and sixteen labors .It is beyond their
reach to maintenance the lake at satisfactory level.
Hence many unlawful activities are going at the
lake site. Encroachment on government-land by the
local people is most important threat to this
ecotourism site. Many illegal constructions are
coming up at the lake site.
Socio-Economic Activities
At present approximately 57 persons are making
their living through self-employment at the lake
site. Additionally, there are approximately 150
indirect employments supported by the Bhugaon
lake ecotourism activities.
Majority of these are in the food vending
area. Almost all the above persons live in the
villages. The present average earning is
approximately Rs.4, 000/- per month.
Statistical Methods for Analysis
The six different ecotourism lake sites like Katraj,
Khadakwasala, Mulshi, Valvan, Lonavala and
Bhugaon in and around Pune were statistically
analysed on matrix based proportion for various
parameters like ecotourism attraction,
environmental quality, amazing area and views,
frequency and attendance alternation, compression
on places, native economics and flora and fauna.
The results clearly revealed that one of the six
ecotourism lake sites, Bhugaon lake has best
potential and rank .The impact assessment results
clearly indicated the ecotourism potential of this lake.
It was followed by Bhushi lake.
The ecotourism quality percentage indicated the
best ecotourism quality of Bhugaon lake.
The results of confidence interval of positive
proportion revealed that Bhugaon lake and Mulshi
lake had highest positive proportion of confidence
interval. This very clearly pointed at that these two
sites have highest ecotourism potential amongst the
other lakes.
The ecotourism potential of lakes situated
toward west direction of Pune had higher proportion
as compared to ecotourism sites on the south
direction. However Bhushi lake in west is
exception . To propose significant difference between
six sites Kruskal-Wallis test was applied.
The Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that the six
ecotourism lake sites had significant difference on
ecotourism attraction, frequency attendance
alternation, and compression on places, with
following statistical character respectively:
(N=17, x2 =32.892, df=7, p_value=0.000)
(N=17, x2 =24.496, df=7, p_value=0.000)
(N=17, x2 =25.837, df=7, p_value=0.000)
Moreover these results indicated that Bhugaon
lake and Mulshi are the best sites for ecotourism
development as compared to other lakes.
The Mann-Whitney test conducted to compare
the ecotourism sites on south and west direction of
Pune showed that sites on two directions had
significant difference on eotourism attraction
(U=764.500,P=0.003) and comparison on places
(U=526.000, P=. 000) .
The ecotourism sites situated towards west
direction of Pune had the best rank rather than south.
Second part of this study was to analyze multivariate
factor to know the effect of combination of seven
factors in six sites. The results indicated that seven
impact variations reduced to two factors with
corresponding multiplayer. The first factor is Lineer
combination of all impact variables with high weight
ecotourism attraction, frequency alternations, native
economic, respectively (0.847, 0.756, 0.669) and
other variables had approximately same weight.
Therefore this factor can be considered as weighted
average of all different impact.
Second factor is weighted average of
environmental quality and flora and fauna with
Multiplayer respectively (0.792, 0.854) contract of
Lineer combination of ecotourism attraction and
native ecotourism multiplier respectively (0.140,-
0.341).
The six sites were compared on the basis of
these factors. Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that there
was significant difference among six sites. Bhugaon
lake had the highest rank as compared to other sites.
But there was no significant difference among
different lakes, when the second factor was
considered.
Kruskal-Wallis test was indicated that there
was significant difference among six sites on factor
one such that Bhugaon lake had the highest rank as
a compared to other lakes like Mulshi, Lonavala,
Bhushi, Valvan, Khadakwasala and Katraj.
The six different sites selected for analysis of
comparison had shown potential for ecotourism.
However these sites differ in their potential.
According to the results of capabilities, various
economical and social aspects will be the most
important goals for development of tourism
industry and internal promenade in each of site
selected for the study.
Pune the densely populated metropolitan city
is almost very close to all the ecotourism sites
selected, many local visitors are expected to visit
these sites on holidays, and hence the number of
visitors will increase significantly.
Due to closeness of all six ecotourism sites to
Pune city the local as well as foreign visitors will
frequently visit these sites. The Bhugaon lake has
great potential to accept local as well as foreign
visitors.
Present investigation has highlighted the
trends of the impacts of ecotourism and has
attempted to produce a synthesis of a large number
of ecotourism studies to identify the factors that
affect the sustainability and success of ecotourism
plans and models. However further work is
necessary for under standing the impacts of
ecotourism. The seven ecotourism effect criteria
and proportion criterion scores used in this study
may be useful to measure the state of other
ecotourism projects. The analysis of the effects of
ecotourism lacks the broad-spectrum quantitative
analysis. The ecotourism planners may compare
their projects by using the above criteria.
Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney Test,
Positive Proportion comparison, based on
questionnaire.
The study of environmental effects of
ecotourism should couple with the biological
effects, including ecological, behavioral, and
diversity effects. Standard methodologies need to
be developed to assess the effects of ecotourism
activities on sites’ ecosystems. Until such
precautions are not taken, forecasting the long-term
effects of ecotourism will be only guesswork.
CONCLUSION
Bhugaon lake has the best ecotourism potential for
development and management amongst the six
sites investigated.
The three approaches that will enhance the
restoring of Bhugaon lake will be:
1. Planning for Eco-tourism.
2. Orienting the site to receive out of state
and international tourists.
1193
 3. 3-Launching a new well planed strategy for
the management and revenue collection.
The Long term environmental strategic
management in this research consists of increasing
recreational places for ecotourists, increasing the
environmental viewpoints and amazing areas,
planning of environmental long term strategies with
attention towards occupation of local people, and
increasing their life standards.
For development of ecotourism in Pune district
following main recommendations are given:
protection and conservation of native flora
preparation of jogging tracks, children parks, yoga
and meditation centre, cultural and traditional
centers, amusement parks.
To develop ecotourism potential of Bhugaon
lakes following ecotourism activities are
recommended:
• Children and young promenade,
• Management of ecotourism area, proper
disposal and reduction of wastes,
• Hosting –serving –cultural and coastal
establishment,
• Green space and natural exhibition,
• Concentrated promenade-ecotourism projects,
• Estimation of expenditure promenade projects
and ecotourism developments,
• Similarly following main plans and models are
suggested to develop ecotourism activities at
Bhugaon lake.
• Creation of forest parks and zoos,
• Protection of native plant species,
• Conservation of natural sites,
• Management of environmental activities,
• Water park and boating,
• Jogging track and walking roads on hills at
south east of Bhugaon lake,
• Yoga and meditation centre,
• Children parks,
• Amusement and children ecopark,
• Water park,
• Ecotourists camp, service centers and
ecotourism facilities,
• Establishment of restaurants and residences for
ecotourists.
All these developments will be undertaken by
involving local people. In almost all the projects
proposed for development of Bhugaon lake high
priority will be given for the jobs and employment of
local people. The suggested proposals and plannings
will not disturb the nature and interfere the life of
villagers in the vicinity of lake.Highest priority will
be given to improve the economics and social
standard of villagers. Where ever possible women
self-help groups will be involved to empower the
village women.
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