Irrigation dept raises concerns over ongoing riverfront development project
PUNE The irrigation (water resources) department has raised concerns over the ongoing Riverfront Development (RFD) project along the Mula-Mutha river undertaken by Pune- and Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporations, asking both corporations to exercise caution while executing works related to the project so as not to reduce the cross-section of the river and not violate the conditions mentioned in the no-objection certificate (NOC) for the project, officials said.
H V Gunale, chief engineer, water resources department, Pune, emphasised that the project must be carried out with the utmost care, following scientific methods, and with minimal damage to the river's natural features. 'We have urged both corporations to take the necessary precautions to protect the river's flow, prevent erosion of the riverbanks, and safeguard the region's biodiversity,' he said.
Earlier, the water resources department had granted NOCs for this project to the PMC and PCMC on the condition that the river's carrying capacity will not be reduced and that the river's cross-section will not be altered in any way. However, the department continued to receive complaints from citizens and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) regarding violation of NOC norms at various locations such as Wakad, Vishal Nagar, Pimple Nilakh, Kaspate Vasti, Bund Garden, Holkar Bridge and the Ramnadi confluence. Reports and site inspections revealed that the ongoing work involves heavy dumping of material in the riverbed, excavation of the river floor, and even construction of roads within the river itself. Local residents and environmentalists raised concerns over these activities reducing the river's natural flow and harming its biodiversity.
Significantly, a public interest litigation (PIL) on the matter is also being currently heard in the high court and the government in response has appointed a special committee led by additional chief secretary of the water resources department to re-demarcate flood lines and monitor the project. Besides, a notice has been issued to the PCMC on March 22 for illegal dumping of debris and rubble near Pimple Nilakh crematorium for the ongoing RFD work.
A major concern raised by experts is that the two municipal corporations are handling the project on different sides of the same river. Ideally, a single agency should be responsible for the entire cross-section of the river to ensure uniformity and avoid technical complications, according to green activists.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Kulkarni, city engineer and head of the environmental department, PCMC, said, 'We have received the letter from the irrigation department and all terms and conditions mentioned in the NOC will be followed by us during the RFD work. The letter has been issued following pressure from green activists and NGOs opposing the project.'
When contacted, Yuvraj Deshmukh, chief engineer, RFD project, PMC, said that they are following all terms and conditions of the NOC in the course of the RFD work.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
Residents of shaky wadas bear with risks, miss out on tenancy certificates
1 2 Pune: Chandrakant Kandhare (50), an auto-rickshaw driver, has been living at Mote Wada, a crumbling building near Shaniwarwada, for as long as he could remember. He is the fourth generation of the family living at the 200-year-old wada. The same is the case with his neighbours — Kabules and Ghags — who have been staying as tenants at the wada for more than 120 years. They have not heard about the tenancy certificates offered by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to occupants of dilapidated wadas. The initiative by PMC assures rights of tenants of dilapidated wadas. Doubts over its utility, legal value and fear of losing property rights after leaving the dilapidated wadas have kept away many from applying for the certificate. "The govt has put restrictions on redeveloping properties near Shaniwarwada. It has stalled development of wadas. We are left with no option but to stay in this dilapidated property," said Kandhare. All that these residents want is improvement of the building's safety so that their future generations could continue to stay there. Swapnil Ghag, a youngster who spent his childhood in the wada, said the authorities should come to the aid of residents. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dad-Approved Ways to Celebrate Father's Day in Costa Mesa - Travel Costa Mesa Travel Costa Mesa Read More Undo "A part of the wada caved in a few years ago. The authorities should remove the damaged portions to ensure the safety of residents," he said. According to the residents, their forefathers paid rent of around 20 paise, which went up to around Rs 50 per month. Though parts of the property have suffered damage, many tenants continue to stay put, putting their lives at risk. Though some have moved out, they continue to pay rent either to the owner or in court in case of a legal dispute to ensure that they retain their property rights on the wada. According to PMC data, only around 650 tenancy certificates have been issued since the initiative started about 10 years ago to resolve the legal battle between owners and occupants of wadas. Over 15,000 tenants still live in wadas, mostly in Peth areas of the city. Faced with poor response to the initiative from wada dwellers, the civic administration has been exploring other options like giving additional floor space index (FSI) for redevelopment of wadas. These can be utilised to accommodate tenants as owners if a wada is redeveloped immediately. "But if a wada is not redeveloped immediately, the tenancy certificate is the guarantee of tenancy rights," an official said. Former PMC corporator Vishal Dhanwande, a resident of a Peth area, said, "The administration lacks willingness to deal with the issue. Many officials show reluctance to demolishing these properties. This can lead to major mishaps. The residents of nearby areas can suffer because of the accident-prone structures." He said the administration should make more efforts to convince the tenants to accept the certificates. Camps or special drives should be organised to create awareness about the same, Dhanwande said. Abhay Joshi, a wada resident, said, "PMC should make efforts to resolve the problem of dilapidated structures. Many of us live in dangerous conditions. The properties are dilapidated and can cause accidents any time, especially during the monsoon." PMC has divided these dangerous structures into three categories — C1, C2, and C3. The most dangerous ones are in the C1 category, while those which need major repairs are in C2 category. The C3 category structures need minor repairs. Rajesh Bhutkar, a senior official of PMC's building permission department, said, "Safety and security of people is of utmost importance to us. The administration has been urging people to vacate the dangerous premises following which demolition drives can be carried out. PMC keeps track of people getting tenancy certificates." The civic body had given notices to residents of 103 rickety wadas ahead of the monsoon. "Most of us belong to the financially weaker sections of the society and cannot afford to pay the market rent," said an occupant of a wada. So, they continue to gamble with fate and stay in these crumbling buildings despite the obvious risks.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Pimpri-Chinchwad to inspire housing societies to go green
In a bid to promote sustainable urban living, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Thursday launched the 'Green Society Initiative' aimed at recognising and rewarding housing societies that adopt eco-friendly practices. The initiative is a step towards decentralised environmental solutions as well as building a greener, more ecologically responsible city, officials said. Under this citywide initiative, housing societies will be evaluated based on core sustainability parameters such as waste segregation, in-house composting, use of solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and wastewater treatment. Societies will be awarded green stars for every criterion fulfilled. Those achieving excellence across categories will receive a special badge of honour from the PCMC commissioner at a dedicated felicitation ceremony, officials said. Shekhar Singh, municipal commissioner, Pimpri-Chinchwad, said, 'This initiative is about empowering communities to become green ambassadors. Every society has the potential to significantly reduce its environmental impact. Through green star ratings, we aim to celebrate those who lead the way and inspire others to follow.' Sachin Pawar, deputy commissioner, PCMC, who is leading the initiative, said, 'This programme provides a framework for societies to turn intent into action. We believe that the citizens of Pimpri-Chinchwad are ready to step forward and set an example in sustainable urban living. The 'Green Society Initiative' is expected to create a culture of environmental responsibility, driven not just by policy but by the people themselves.' Officials said that the initiative will be rolled out in a phased manner—beginning with awareness campaigns, followed by society registrations, capacity-building workshops, training and onsite assessments. BOX What makes a 'Green Society'? Waste segregation: Systematic separation of wet and dry waste at source In-house composting: Managing organic waste within society premises Solar power adoption: Use of rooftop solar systems for common area electricity needs Rainwater harvesting: Capturing and storing rainwater to reduce water scarcity Wastewater treatment and reuse: Recycling grey water for gardening and other purposes How it works? For every environmental criterion fulfilled, societies will receive a green star. Societies achieving excellence across categories will be conferred a special badge of honour.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
Will develop riverfront project to be best in country: Pune civic chief
Pune municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram on Thursday directed officials to develop the city's riverfront project into an iconic, world-class initiative, aiming to make it the best in the country. The civic chief visited the ongoing project near Bund Garden on the occasion of World Environment Day and participated in a tree plantation drive. 'I have seen riverfronts in several foreign countries, and we are working in the same direction. With greater effort, our project has the potential to surpass even the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad,' he said. Yuvraj Deshmukh, incharge, riverfront project said that construction is underway along a 9-km stretch — from Sangamwadi to Bund Garden (3.7km) and Bund Garden to Mundhwa Bridge (5.3km). 'Sections from Sadalbaba to Ganesh Ghat (300 metres) and at Koregaon Park (800 metres) have been completed. We are also replacing invasive tree species with native ones along the riverbank,' he said. Additional municipal commissioner Prithviraj BP aid, 'To mark World Environment Day, PMC planted 1,250 trees, each between 10 and 15 feet tall. Of these, 850 were planted on forest land, 150 at Yerawada Jail, and 250 along the riverfront project.'
