Pune district's wildlife warden seeks halt on riverfront development project at Mula

Time of India

29-04-2025

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Pune: The honorary wildlife warden of Pune district, Aditya Paranjape, on Tuesday urged the
Pimpri Chinchwad municipal commissioner
to halt all development work on the Mula riverbank opposite Ramnadi-Mula confluence because of the harm it inflicted on wildlife.
Paranjape, in his letter, stated that the development work as part of the Mula-Mutha riverfront development project is leading to significant tree felling and disturbance to wildlife in the area. This was in reference to the grievance raised by citizen Vandana Chaudhary to declare the region as a community reserve, which prompted Centre to seek a report from the state forest department.
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Based on complaints received from local citizens and the warden's observations, it was concluded that there were multiple endangered species of animals and other forms of wildlife in the area that are likely to be affected by the encroachments on the river, he said. "In light of these findings, we urge you to immediately stop the encroachment in the Mula river where the current work is ongoing. We also request that the encroachments be removed to restore the wildlife. We await a formal 'action-taken report' as per the directions of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change," the letter said.
Paranjape told TOI, "Citizens have been trying to protect this stretch for quite a while, and the project which govt is executing must be in accordance with the public's demands. This letter is an intimation to the commissioner to take action in this regard. Following this, if no development is observed to halt the work affecting the wildlife, then I will take legal action against them. Once they stop this, we can propose the region for a community reserve."
The letter also said that the disturbances have been observed in various locations such as Wakad, Vishalnagar, Kaspate Vasti, and most importantly, the ecologically sensitive area of Ram Mula confluence. "We have documented the presence of endangered species such as the grey mongoose, Indian flying fox, rat snake, Russell's viper, Indian cobra, checkered keelback, Bengal monitor, and Indian flapshell turtle, all of which are categorised under schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Additionally, there are numerous terrestrial and aquatic birds, as well as significant freshwater species of fish, which are also getting impacted."
On Sunday, activists, citizens and environmentalists staged a protest against the project at Pimple Nilakh. However, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation commissioner Shekhar Singh clarified that the work would not be halted without reason as the project received all clearances required.
Alongside this, the forest department also requested the Pune Municipal Corporation to halt any work for the project on their end of the bank, which includes the "devrai" at Ramnadi-Mula confluence. The corporation agreed to halt all work at that stretch and look at alternative designs for protection.
Officials from PCMC could not be reached for a comment.
"We need to protect the wildlife in the region. Any form of debris dumping and encroachments on both banks is extremely harmful to the wildlife," said Shailaja Deshpande, founder of Jeevitnadi.
An honorary wildlife warden is a govt-appointed volunteer who supports wildlife conservation by working alongside the state forest department. Their role includes helping enforce the Wildlife Protection Act, curbing poaching, identifying wildlife-related offences, and protecting natural habitats.