India, Aug. 7 -- Amid growing complaints of hill quarrying across Pune, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been instructed to launch a joint investigation into all such activities, and immediately stop any work found to be in violation of rules pending inquiry.

The directive was issued by standing committee chairman Shrinath Bhimale during the committee's weekly meeting on Thursday following complaints of extensive hill excavation near Gangadham chowk and Solitaire business hub in Bibwewadi and parts of Bavdhan, Market Yard and Katraj. Bhimale also asked the civic administration to carry out a GIS-based mapping of all hills in the city, and formulate a dedicated conservation and development plan to protect hill slopes and biodivers...