Latest news with #RiverfrontDevelopmentProject
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Activists slam PCMC over proposed tree felling, 1,200 objections filed
Over 100 citizens and environmental activists, present for the hearing of the proposed tree felling of 1,009 trees in Wakad and Sangvi for the Riverfront Development Project (RFD) on Monday, claimed the proposed docket prepared by the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) was illegal and legally flawed. According to PCMC officials, the revised docket proposes felling of 1,009 trees, transplanting 2,252. (HT) The PCMC last month had issued a public notice in newspapers regarding the proposed tree felling and replantation of trees that will be affected during the RFD project. The civic body received over 1,200 suggestions and objections to the project. During the hearing, held at the civic garden in Bhosari, green activists submitted a fresh letter demanding cancellation of the existing docket, which they claimed violates the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975. According to PCMC officials, the revised docket proposes felling of 1,009 trees, transplanting 2,252, and retaining 3,585 trees, including heritage and ecologically significant trees. Besides, 67 trees have already fallen naturally due to age or calamities. Activists argued that the very basis of the current hearing is flawed as Section 5(a) of the Tree Act mandates that only the Tree Authority or designated Tree Officer can carry out official tree surveys. The documents presented lack basic legal compliance as they do not include geo-tagged photographs, survey dates, or location coordinates, they said. Green activist, Prashant Raul, pointed out that many trees currently standing at the site were missing from the survey report. 'A previous tree census from December 2021 by PCMC, which provides a more accurate count, was ignored. An RTI has also been filed demanding that the older data be used to assess the objections. The report fails to follow the Act's definition of a tree, omitting climbers, grasses, and shrubs. Additionally, the Expert Committee's report, which should clarify why certain trees are being felled or transplanted, was not made available,' he said. Another major concern, according to activists, is that the hearing focused only on the Wakad to Sangvi stretch, while the RFD covers up to Dapodi. Activists questioned why permissions and objections are being considered phase-wise when project approvals were taken for the full stretch. Also, native species such as Karanj, Neem, Banyan, Peepal and Babool were labelled as 'invasive' in the report, drawing widespread criticism. Raju Savle, civic activist, also accused PCMC of already cutting down trees without necessary permissions. Evidence, including photos from 2023, 2024 and this year was submitted, showing large-scale felling to make way for contractor's vehicles and machinery. Mahesh Gargote, head of the garden department, PCMC, said, 'The Tree department has received around 1,200 objections from the public. These objections will be compiled and forwarded to the Environment department and later presented before the Tree Authority. The project work has begun in some sections. All objections would be considered and possible corrective actions would be taken following the Tree Act guidelines.'
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Indian Express
Pune Riverfront Development Project: Petitioners urge public to stay alert against tree felling after Bombay HC setback
Days after the Bombay High Court refused to restrain the Tree Authority from felling and replanting trees for the Riverfront Development Project on the Mula-Mutha river, the petitioners have urged the people of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to 'stay vigilant' against any further tree felling or transplantation from the Sangamwadi bridge to the Mundhwa bridge. Pune-based Shalvi Pawar, Tanmayi S, and others have made the call after the court granted liberty to the petitioners to raise objections if any more proposals are made to the Tree Authority for more unlawful tree-cutting under the Riverfront Development Project (RFD). The PIL, which had been filed three-and-a-half months ago, was disposed of after the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) told the court that six separate permissions had been granted for cutting 1,302 trees and transplanting 1,843 trees along the 9-km stretch of the Mula-Mutha river. Of these, 997 trees had already been cut and 859 trees transplanted, and 'further work is in progress'. As part of the RFD project, 11,000 trees of the 22,150 in the project area will be felled and 11,150 trees will be transplanted. The project will also include the planting of 30,000 trees of local varieties in the area. PMC stated that alongside cutting or transportation of trees, the execution of the project work of the RFD was also going on at the site. According to the court order, 'The learned counsel for the PMC submits that under the project, the Corporation has planted 5,100 trees up to April 2025 and, from April 27, 2025 to 11 July 2025, 2,369 trees were planted and that they shall ensure that the aforesaid trees are maintained properly'. Pawar, a professional ecological conservationist, says, 'We need every citizen to be very alert and inform us on the social media pages of 'Pune River Revival', a citizen-led movement that works for the rights of Pune rivers and riparian trees. People can directly post on Facebook page and Instagram of 'Pune River Revival' if they spot tree felling anywhere near the river-side'. The organisation comprises thousands of environmentally sensitive people who work to preserve the natural spaces of Pune.' The group will reach out to people over social media and direct engagement. Tanmayi says that she was prompted to file the PIL after visiting RFD sites and being disappointed about the destruction to the riparian zones. 'If the river actually becomes clean, the kind of biodiversity that we can have is beyond imagination. I was born and brought up in Pune. I want to have the relationship that my parents and my grandparents had with the rivers. I want to be able to swim in rivers, that is what drives me,' she says. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the RFD project in March 2022, almost five years after Pune Municipal Corporation prepared its detailed project report (DPR) to beautify the 44-km-long river stretch of Mula and Mutha passing through the city. After overcoming a legal battle posed by environmentalists and citizens' groups, the civic administration has given a major push to its implementation. 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
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Pawar uncle & nephew prep to battle it out in PCMC poll
Pune: The two factions of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have intensified their campaigns in Pimpri Chinchwad with civic election expected later this year. Pimpri Chinchwad was once the stronghold of undivided NCP, especially of Ajit Pawar — who is credited with the city's development. The uncle-nephew battle witnessed during the assembly and Lok Sabha elections in 2024 is likely to repeat. On Tuesday, both leaders held separate events in the city, rallying their workers to gear up for a return to power in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). BJP had seized control of PCMC in 2017, ending NCP's uninterrupted rule of 15 years. After the split, both NCP factions are eyeing a return to power. While addressing party workers in Tathawade, Sharad Pawar said, "When our party was in power, we took many decisions for Pimpri Chinchwad's development. It is important to note that the ideology behind our decisions was that of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Those who follow the ideology must return to power, if we are to carry forward the development." Ajit Pawar, who addressed a gathering at Bhosari later in the evening, said his party follows the ideology of leaders who promoted equality. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cuối cùng, chơi miễn phí game chiến thuật hay nhất 2025! Sea of Conquest Phát ngay Undo "We joined the Mahayuti govt to ensure citizen-oriented actions. I assure everyone that we will always move ahead with the ideology of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, Mahatma Phule and BR Ambedkar." Senior Pawar recalled that it was former CM Yashvantrao Chavan's decision that brought in big industrial units to Chakan and Pimpri Chinchwad. He said that because of his efforts, the city got an IT park — which provides employment in large numbers now. "There are many who contributed to the development, which changed the face of Pimpri Chinchwad," he added. Pawar raised the issue of unauthorised constructions built on gunthewari plots in the city and said the authorities must find a solution to regularise them. "Several issues — like regular water supply and objections raised by activists and residents about the Riverfront Development Project — are among the matters that have remained unsolved under the BJP and later the administrative rule," said the NCP (SP) chief, adding that the party will give opportunities to many new faces in the civic poll. While addressing a gathering in Bhosari, Ajit Pawar said all projects undertaken during the time when NCP was in power in PCMC were aimed at development for the next 50 years and the city — considered one of the fastest developing ones in India — will require similar planning for future growth. "There are issues like objections raised by people about the revised draft of the development plan and the town planning scheme for Chikhali. I will raise it with the municipal commissioner and get it addressed," he added. Meanwhile, former PCMC corporator Ajit Gavhane and his supporters, who joined NCP (SP) during the assembly poll, last year, returned to NCP in an event on Tuesday. Gavhane said there were 37 former corporators who switched sides only with the intent to support his candidature for the assembly election.
Indian Express
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Pune citizens approach Jal Shakti minister again, raise RFD concerns
For the second time in four months, citizen groups of Pune took their concerns about the Riverfront Development Project (RFD) directly to the Minister of Jal Shakti CR Patil on June 17. 'We have sent him letters twice and I went and met him in Delhi,' said Medha Kulkarni, a BJP MP who has been raising her voice against the the processes being followed in the RFD, including riverbeds shrinking, dumping of debris and tree felling. On Tuesday, members of the Pune River Revival, which works for the rights of the city's rivers, visited the minister, who was visiting the Central Water and Power Research Station. 'We have raised citizens' grievances and concerns, such as increased flood risk, environmental degradation and river pollution due to the RFD project along with our suggestion for improvement. We are, further, bringing to your urgent attention a series of serious grievances raised by citizens and experts related to environment safety, citizen safety and civic issues arising from the RFD that is, currently, being implemented by the PMC and PCMC,' said the letters. Sewage worries The letter pointed out that 'heavy pollution of the river will not be controlled just by increasing the number of Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) and downstream management'. This issue brought the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) programme to the fore, whose objective was to 'improve the water quality in the Mula, Mutha and Mula-Mutha rivers by augmenting sewage collection systems and sewage treatment facilities in PMC area. It also includes taking other measures required for the pollution abatement and thereby improving the sanitation and living conditions of people who reside in Pune City and in the watershed of the downstream area'. 'We have been trying to draw their attention to the issue that just having a number of STPs, even if these get completed as per their commitments till 2026, is not going to reduce the pollution in the rivers because the multiple streams that are meeting the river are completely not addressed. The direct outfalls that are releasing the sewage will continue to do so. There is also a major component of groundwater contamination that has not been taken into consideration in the river rejuvenation,' said Shailaja Deshpande, one of the signatories of the letter. She added that groundwater contamination from microplastics and other emerging pollutants, such as pthalates, are not highlighted even by PCBs. 'River rejuvenation means stopping pollution at source and not treating after it enters waterbodies,' said Deshpande. Another signatory, Priyadarshini Karve, said, 'We have been highlighting a point for quite some time that the whole project is based on the assumption that 100 per cent of sewage is going to be treated and there will only be clean water in the river channel. Several calculations, however, have shown that there is no way that, just by completing the STPs under JICA, all the sewage will be treated as the city has expanded and the amount of sewage has increased.' According to the letter given to the minister, citizens feel the solution involves 'upstream management and reducing pollution at the source'. 'Maintaining the natural filtration service by conserving riparian zones is of utmost necessity,' read the letter. Encroachment, wildlife threats The letter points out that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board sent notices to PMC, PCMC and the Irrigation Department, citing issues like interference with the natural flow of the river as well as encroachment. Point number 3 is that the project violated the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 and Aditya Paranjape, honourable wildlife warden, Pune District, had urged the PCMC Commissioner to halt the work and restore habitats. IISER Pune too raised concerns about the RFD, while the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute had released findings about long-term safety concerns about the RFD. In the letter, the citizens urged that PMC and PCMC suspend all work on the RFD, revisit the plan and try to balance urban development and environmental conservation, and restore riparian zones and natural habitats to check river pollution. 'This is a collective demand for sustainable and ecologically sensitive urban development, which is safe, participatory and supports the local community. Pune's rivers are not just waterbodies but also living ecosystems and cultural lifelines,' the letter said.
Hans India
23-05-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Jamnagar civic body in Gujarat resumes clearing illegal encroachments along riverbanks
Ahmedabad: The Jamnagar Municipal Corporation (JMC) in Gujarat resumed its large-scale demolition drive targeting illegal encroachments along the banks of the Rangamati and Nagmati rivers near Ranjit Sagar Road on Friday. The operation aims to free up nearly 66,000 square feet of public land, with an estimated value of around Rs one crore. The demolition action follows prior notices served to 33 illegal encroachers, and marks a continuation of efforts to clear riverbeds ahead of the monsoon. The initiative is part of a broader plan linked to the Riverfront Development Project, and is intended to prevent waterlogging and flooding in city areas during the rainy season. The operation saw the deployment of significant resources, including six JCB machines, four tractors, and one excavator, along with the coordinated efforts of over 100 municipal staff and a strong police force, which also included women officers from the City A Division. Earlier this week, on Wednesday, a similar demolition was carried out along the stretch between Kalavad Naka and Nageshwar, where 50,000 square feet of space was cleared between morning and 6 p.m. Meanwhile, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) completed a two-phase demolition drive around Chandola Lake in the Danilimda area, targeting illegal encroachments that had accumulated over decades. The operation, which began on April 29 and concluded on May 22, resulted in the removal of approximately 12,500 unauthorised structures, including residences, shops, and religious establishments, reclaiming around four lakh square meters of public land. The first phase of the drive cleared about 1.5 lakh square meters, while the second phase focused on an additional 2.5 lakh square meters. The AMC deployed substantial resources, including 35 bulldozers, 15 earthmovers, and over 350 personnel, with the support of 3,000 police and State Reserve Police officers to maintain law and order during the operations. The demolition drive has sparked discussions regarding the rehabilitation of displaced residents. The AMC has stated that individuals who have been residing in the area since before 2010 are eligible for alternative housing under the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) housing scheme. However, concerns have been raised about the adequacy and timeliness of these provisions.
