‘‘Broad outlines of the plan will be worked out soon at a meeting with Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh early next month,’’ State Forest Minister Babanrao Pachpute said.

The reason: growing pollution levels in Pune with almost 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide being generated by various polluting sources, primarily the large vehicular population (around 10 lakh).

Pachpute, who is the city for attending a series of programmes as part of the World Environment Day on Sunday, said the existing green cover was merely capable of absorbing a little more than half of this polluting gases. Hence, it was imperative to have a plan, he said, adding once it was finalised, there would be no delay in implementing it.

Pachpute also strongly supported the idea of imposing environment tax on vehicles, depending upon their age and quantum of gas generated. A similar tax is already in vogue in Australia, he said, adding owners of vehicles that have clocked more than 20,000 km of run have to pay for plantation and maintenance of five saplings each.

‘Efforts on to keep tigers in district’

On the recent spotting of tiger pugmarks in Pune district by the forest officials, Babanrao Pachpute said all measures would be taken to ensure that the tigers stay for long in the district. ‘‘The forest department will take special care to ensure that an adequate number of tiger prey and water bodies are available in the area concerned,’’ he said. For this, water bodies would be created under the State’s water conservation programme and a more conducive atmosphere would be made for rearing of deer.

Tree-felling to be dealt with severely

BABANRAO Pachpute said that appropriate amendment in the State Act for forests would be made for making animal poaching and tree-felling as non-bailable offences. Several animal killings can be attributed to acts of superstition and to curb all these activities, there has to be a deterrent provision under the law, he said.