Latest news with #RiverfrontDevelopment
Indian Express
26-05-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
‘We have found some flaws': Why IISER scientists are red-flagging RFD
On Monday, as monsoon arrived early in Pune, IISER was among the areas to be lashed by heavy rains. Dr Argha Banerjee, associate professor and deputy chair, Earth and Climate Science, at IISER, says hundreds of papers have been written all over the world that climate change is going to change the precipitation patterns and increase extreme events. 'It is the kind of situation that initiatives, such as the Riverfront Development (RFD), should be designed for,' he says. A few weeks ago, Banerjee, Radhika Mulay and Tresa Mary Thomas, who are with the Earth and Climate Science department and the Center for Water Research at IISER Pune, released a paper, titled 'A brief review of the Hydrology and Hydraulics report for the Mula-Mutha Riverfront Development Project'. It summarises that climate change effects were not considered, flood levels were underestimated and world-class scientific expertise present in city institutes must be utilised. Among the warnings from the report is that 'while the precise increase in the flood levels and flood frequency at the scale of the city are challenging to predict, it is imperative to consider significantly higher design floods … and ensure the city's flood resilience. The RFD report fails to address these critical concerns, and may not prepare the city for the unexpectedly high flood levels due to climate change. This can be remedied by extensive consultation with the world-class experts in climate and hydrology in institutes like IMD, IITM, IISER Pune, etc. that are present in the city'. 'Since we have a general interest in water and the RFD was going on right in front of us, we decided to have a look at the Detailed Project Report of the RFD: Annexure 2 – Hydrology and Hydraulics. We looked at the report from the basic science perspective. We did not run any of their simulations or redo the calculations. We just checked the basic science of it and from that perspective, already, we have found some flaws that we have highlighted in our report,' says Mulay. One of the main factors pointed out is that 'there is very little data analysis'. 'Though Pune is home to the IMD and there are a few stations in the region, it is still a very complex terrain. The IMD data is not always good enough as precipitation varies a lot over a short distance. This tells us that we have to be careful and that care is missing in case of the RFD. We have pointed this out. We don't really have a solution but we can say that the data that exists was not looked into carefully,' says Banerjee. The report emphasises that the RFD design team did not use their own estimates and, instead, relied on the estimates from the Irrigation Department, Pune. 'A recent Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute report came up with significantly higher flood discharge estimates than those suggested by the Irrigation Department. The extreme monsoonal rain can lead to floods, when the river levels and the storage in dams are already high. This was not considered in the RFD estimates of flood levels. It may be prudent to consider the combined effects of the average monsoon discharge and the discharge due to the extreme rainfall. In addition, a strong gradient in the rainfall from the Western Ghats to Pune, together with the sparse network of hydrometeorological stations in this catchment, makes all the above flood estimates inherently uncertain,' says the report. The report also states that the RFD plans to replace 240 hectares of greenery, 'largely with concrete without any serious evaluation of the carbon footprint associated with the infrastructure development'. 'It is unclear if the damage to the ecosystem during the construction phase has been assessed. Additionally, the Environmental Impact Assessment report should be independently reviewed by scientists and experts in the city working in the relevant fields,' it states.
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- General
- Indian Express
Mula has heart disease, but is being treated by dentist: India's waterman on Riverfront Development Project
It was a coincidence that water conservationist Rajendra Singh, who is based in Rajasthan, was in Pune around the time that PCMC demolished entire bungalows in Chikhali because these were built on the blue floodline of the Indrayani river. In 2016, he carried out a day-long fast to support citizens and experts in the city who were demanding that PCMC halt constructions in the blue flood line of the Indrayani River. 'The municipality ignored these demands at the time. Recently, a court ordered the demolition of constructions within the Indrayani River's blue flood line by May 31. Timely attention to the demands to save the Indrayani river could have prevented this situation,' he said. 'I expect that similar demolitions will, eventually, take place on the Mula banks as well,' Singh added. 'This is not the development of a river but the killing of a river. The Mula river is suffering from a heart disease but is being treated by a beauty parlour and a dentist,' said Singh after he visited the Mula river, the site of the Riverfront Development, on Sunday. Singh, who won the Ramon Magsaysay award in 2001 and the Stockholm Water Prize, said to be the water conservation Nobel Prize, is known as the Waterman of India. Singh was visiting Pune after a year. 'I was sad to see that soil had been filled 75 ft into the blue zone on the PCMC side. If this happens on the PMC side as well, the entire river will die. This will increase the risk of flooding,' he said. Singh said that the term 'river rejuvenation' had been coined more than 50 years ago when he, as a 14-year-old had begun to work on revitalising dried and dead rivers. 'The way I did it was by using rainwater and small dams to recharge the aquifers and, thus, raise water levels of the rivers. We managed to revive 23 rivers. For this, more than 12 lakh young people, including more than 6,000 dacoits of the Chambal region, worked with us. Today, the river is still flowing and many dacoits have substituted their guns for agricultural equipment and turned into farmers,' he said. Singh said there was dire need to rejuvenate the rivers of Pune, beginning with cleaning the water, addressing the problem of drains that discharge pollutants in the river, tackling encroachments and preventing extraction. 'I estimate that, if the RFD work continues, PMC and PCMC areas will see heavy flooding and destruction. Then, perhaps, we will return to the correct definition of river rejuvenation,' he said. The conservationist is appealing to people to protect the river. 'This is not a fight against any neta or officer. A river stands for people's lives, cultures, civilisation and the people of Pune should save the rivers that flow through the city,' he said. Dipanita Nath is interested in the climate crisis and sustainability. She has written extensively on social trends, heritage, theatre and startups. She has worked with major news organizations such as Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
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.
Indian Express
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Play ‘The… Other World' to be performed in Pune on May 10: ‘No one will survive, regardless of wealth or status'
As hundreds of citizens walked under the hot morning sun on April 27 to raise their voices against the Riverfront Development (RFD), it went unnoticed that not everybody was from Pune. Theatre performer Sayali Prakash was among those who had travelled from Mumbai to participate in the 'Nadi Saathi…Nadi Kaathi' march. The concerns of the protest are reflected in a play, The… Other World, of which Prakash is a part. Written and directed by Manjul Bhardwaj, The… Other World toured five countries of Europe, which is the fastest warming continent, in 2024 and will be performed at the Bal Gandharva auditorium on May 10, 6.30 pm. The play begins with the birth of the planet and the evolution of species, including humans. 'In the beginning, humans live in harmony with nature. After the development of agriculture, however, people become greedy. Though earth has everything that we need for life, humans begin to try to control the five elements. The element of fire, for instance, is turned into nuclear weapons to destroy others. In today's world, even taking a simple breath has become expensive. Air, water, food—everything is polluted,' says Prakash. Anybody who objects to the exploitation of nature is labeled as being against development and progress. 'The aim of the play is to make audiences think if we can find a balance between development and the environment. We understand that it is impossible to step back from where we are — we cannot give up mobile phones — but can we respect the planet in future? Through the play, we wish to explore humanity's journey from the Stone Age to the present, showcasing how progress has led us to ecological destruction. If the environment is destroyed, no one will survive, regardless of wealth or status,' says Prakash. There are 12 performers and the play uses basic costumes and has no sets. Instead, the story is told through physical movements, with forests and rivers being conjured physically before audiences. The first 45 minute of the play has no dialogue but uses sounds to depict the birth of the planet and evolution. In the remaining 45 minutes, the performers break the fourth wall and interact with the audiences directly about shared concerns about the environment. 'In Europe, we would ask people why there were no forests though there were many parks,' says Prakash. Interestingly, the play does not use plastic and the musical instruments are made of natural elements, such as wood and stone.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
PCMC commissioner vows to continue work on RFD project despite protests
Pune: Activists, citizens, and environmentalists staged protests on Sunday at Pimple Nilakh against the Riverfront Development (RFD) project by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). However, municipal commissioner Shekhar Singh made it clear that the project would not be halted and work would continue as planned. 'The RFD will not be stopped. Work is ongoing, and there is no immediate reason to halt it. The project has received clearance from the National Green Tribunal, and the Bombay High Court has dismissed the petition by environmentalists,' Singh said while addressing the media on Monday. During Sunday's protest, deputy speaker of the Legislative Assembly Anna Bansode met with protesters on the Mula riverbank. Bansode expressed concerns over the project and stated he would request the PMC and PCMC commissioners to halt the riverfront development work. The project, which is estimated to cost ₹275 crore, spans a 20 km stretch in PCMC's jurisdiction, with work currently ongoing on an 8 km stretch. Singh explained that Bansode raised the concerns of environmentalists, and he briefed him on the legal proceedings, including the National Green Tribunal's clearance and the necessary no-objection certificates from various government bodies. 'We have followed all legal protocols and received environmental and other necessary clearances. The project will move forward as planned,' Singh confirmed. Meanwhile, on April 27, environmentalists raised further concerns over alleged illegal tree felling in the city, linking it to the riverfront development. In response, Bansode urged the municipal authorities to halt the ongoing work.
