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Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘This is just a beginning': As PCMC stays RFD work in Pimple Nilakh, green groups galvanised to continue protests
The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has put a stay on a 400–metre River Front Development (RFD) project in Pimple Nilakh area which falls within its jurisdiction. The PCMC has undertaken the project from Wakad bypass to Sangvi bridge. Sanjay Kulkarni, Chief Engineer of PCMC and head of the civic environmental department, has said that the pause was temporary, to carry out redesigning work on the project, which will take about a week. 'We have asked the firm involved, B G Shirke Constructions Technology Pvt Ltd, to stop the work for now on a 400 metre stretch in Pimple Nilakh area. This is being done with the objective of redesigning the project on this stretch. At the time of execution, as per the site condition, we revise the design. As per the revised drawings, we will execute the project,' he said. Kulkarni said the irrigation department has asked the civic body to redesign the stretch work following protests from citizens and environmentalists. Work on the remaining nine km will continue. The RFD aims to beautify a 44 km river stretch of Mula and Mutha rivers that flow through the city. It has become a cause of protests by citizen groups who point out the threats to biodiversity and the dangers of concretisation, which include urban flooding, among others. The protests culminated in a civil society march, 'Nadi Sathi Nadi Kathi' to the Dada Ghat Shamshan Bhumi in April. It is this site where the work has been stayed at present. Citizen groups, suspecting that the RFD was motivated by commercial interests, have been knocking on almost every door and have even met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure that the civic bodies concentrate on cleaning the river and following a scientific process in developing the riverfront. On May 1, Delhi-based politician Maneka Gandhi had spoken to Shekhar Singh, the PCMC chief, and asked him to send a team with Aditya Paranjape, the Hon Wildlife Warden, to 'see what is happening'. On Friday, Gandhi welcomed the news of the stay on the RFD on the 400 m stretch. 'Rivers are more important than anything else and river ecology is the most important,' she said. The stay on the project has come as an encouragement for citizen groups. Dhananjay Shedbale, who had been a part of the group that had sat in hunger strike before the PCMC office against the RFD, said, 'The latest development of ceasing the work is the result of the protest movement that has been going on for two months. Our demand is 'clean water, clean river' and not concretisation. We reached out to the masses and to the decision makers and went up to the Chief Minister.' Shedbale added that 'this is just a beginning'. 'I am hopeful that the authorities will realize that this project, called river rejuvenation, is really a river-killing project. The focus should not be on construction but the constructive work of rejuvenation, i.e making the water clean from the origin till the confluence. Only then, will rivers flow and the river ecosystem will flourish. It will help the city and the purpose will be served,' said Shedbale. It is evident that Pune will see more protests to drive the point about improving the river in the next few months, and not only on the PCMC side. 'At present, work has been stayed only at Pimple Nilakh, which is a temporary and unpredictable response. They probably mentioned only Pimple Nilakh because, here, they have already violated an old NGT order. Citizens intend to continue the struggle until all encroachments in all riverbeds and on all riverbanks are removed,' said Shailaja Deshpande, among the most respected and vocal senior members of environment-conscious citizen groups. Deshpande reiterated that, though ceasing of the work near Pimple Nilakh, is a positive response from authorities, it can be said to be very little and temporary. 'It has taken huge efforts by citizens to consistently follow up with all government authorities, conduct awareness campaigns and hold umpteen meetings with different political leaders and ministries. Citizens have gone to Delhi and Mumbai and have banged on all possible closed doors. Our request is to remove dumping in the riverbed from Wakad to Sangvi. Both PMC and PCMC must consider citizens' demands and modify their existing unscientific and damaging design,' added Deshpande. The demand of citizens is not confined to only Mula near Wakad to Sangvi but for all rivers- Mula, Mutha, Mula-Mutha, Pawana and Indrayani. 'Citizen groups are against the way the project is being implemented. We want the conditions of the rivers to be improved. Reviving river projects is required but not the way they are being implemented currently,' added Deshpande.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
PCMC directs contractor to stop riverfront development work at Pimple Nilakh
Following objections from irrigation department, citizens and green activists, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Wednesday directed the contractor to stop the riverfront development (RFD) project work along a stretch of Mula River, said officials on Thursday. PCMC on Wednesday issued a letter to one of the contractors, directing them to stop work on a 400-metre stretch of the RFD project near the Mula-Ramnadi confluence in Pimple Nilkah near the crematorium. 'There have been complaints from residents and NGOs regarding the ongoing project near Pimple Nilakh crematorium under your supervision. A technical inspection is conducted to reconsider the current work. Until the preliminary report is ready, the work should be temporarily suspended until further orders,' reads the letter, a copy of which Hindustan Times has seen. Hindustan Times had published the report 'PCMC to revise RFD plan amid public objections' on April 25 on the civic body's plan to revise the RFD project. The civic administration has instructed the environment, garden and tree authority departments to prepare a fresh proposal that gives priority to conservation of trees, the report said. The decision comes after objections were raised by the irrigation department and complaints from residents and environmental activists. The water resources department on May 5 had asked both Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune municipal corporations to exercise caution while executing works related to the project and ensure that the river's cross-section is not reduced and conditions mentioned in the NOC for the project are not violated, said officials. Sanjay Kulkarni, city engineer and head, PCMC environment department, said, 'The work from Wakad Bypass to Sangvi Bridge (Phase-1) under the joint Mula river RFD project is implemented by PCMC and PMC. We have decided to redesign the stretch at Pimple Nilakh. However, work on the remaining sections will continue.' Shekhar Singh, Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal commissioner, said, 'We have made similar changes in the project design earlier also on public suggestions to protect the green cover.'
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Pak Not Given Best...': Lt Gen Kulkarni On Why Pak's China-Made Weapons Are Failing
Retired Lt Gen Sanjay Kulkarni has raised serious questions over the reliability of Chinese-made weapons used by Pakistan during the latest cross-border attacks. He suggested that Beijing may have supplied Pakistan with lower-grade weaponry, citing repeated failures of drones and missiles recovered on Indian soil. Watch the full interview to know more. Read More
India Gazette
09-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Ex-IAF, Defence Expert highlight India's strategic superiority, slam Pakistan's flawed 'war' tactics
New Delhi [India], May 9 (ANI): Retired Air Vice Marshal Suryakant Chintaman Chafekar and defence expert Sanjay Kulkarni have provided insights into India's strategic defensive superiority, highlighting the effectiveness of its defence systems in countering Pakistan's tactics. Air Vice Marshal Chafekar emphasised that Pakistan's retaliation by a large-scale drone attack on Thursday, which included attempts on Indian military positions and cities, deviated from conventional 'war policy'. 'Pakistan started this, and we responded by attacking terrorist attacks. But its reaction was expected... But their response, by attacking our military positions and attacking our cities, has thrown the war policy out the window.' Chafekar said. He elaborated on Pakistan's lack of understanding of India's advanced defence capabilities, particularly the S-400 air defence system, pointing out that India's Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) grid provides a significant advantage as it could detect a wide range of threats from a considerable distance. 'I want to clarify that they attacked, but their war strategy was so weak that they did not know what our S400 Air Defence System was... They did not have that much knowledge... Another advantage of India is that we use the UAS grid. This UAS grid can catch small targets. This combination can detect ballistic missiles, medium-level missiles, low-level missiles, fighter jets, helicopters and drones and detect from far enough,' he stated. In contrast, Chafekar highlighted the limitations of Pakistan's HQ-9 air defence system, which lacks the capability to counter drones effectively. 'But looking at the other side, Pakistan's HQ-9 system does not have the power to catch drones. So it's called war strategy. India utilised the weakness of Pakistan's air defence system,' he explained. Defence expert Sanjay Kulkarni echoed the sentiment of India's preparedness and resolve, noting that Pakistan has employed a multifaceted approach, utilising cyber warfare, drones, and missiles in its efforts against India. 'Pakistan has tried everything to wage war against India. Pakistan is using everything it has (against India). Be it cyber, be it drones, or be it missiles. It is using whatever it has,' Kulkarni said. However, he stressed that India has not yet deployed its full arsenal but is poised to deliver a decisive response. 'India hasn't used everything. But India will teach Pakistan a lesson. We have shut several airports, and blackouts have been implemented in several places,' Kulkarni added. He underscored the capability of Indian security forces, stating, 'Pakistan has seen the capability of Indian security forces and how united we are. If Pakistan wants to fight, then India will give a befitting reply.' Their insights came following Pakistan's foiled attempt at a large-scale drone attack on Thursday targeting India's assets, including military and civilian structures. Pakistan's attempted retaliation came after Operation Sindoor, where the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. (ANI)
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Ex-IAF, Defence Expert highlight India's strategic superiority, slam Pakistan's flawed 'war' tactics
Retired Air Vice Marshal Suryakant Chintaman Chafekar and defence expert Sanjay Kulkarni have provided insights into India's strategic defensive superiority, highlighting the effectiveness of its defence systems in countering Pakistan's tactics. #Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Clash Live Updates| Missiles, shelling, and attacks — here's all that's happening Pakistani Air Force jet shot down in Pathankot by Indian Air Defence: Sources India on high alert: What's shut, who's on leave, and state-wise emergency measures Air Vice Marshal Chafekar emphasised that Pakistan's retaliation by a large-scale drone attack on Thursday, which included attempts on Indian military positions and cities, deviated from conventional "war policy". "Pakistan started this, and we responded by attacking terrorist attacks. But its reaction was expected... But their response, by attacking our military positions and attacking our cities, has thrown the war policy out the window." Chafekar said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 15 Most Beautiful Athletes – Can You Guess Who's #1? Click Here Undo He elaborated on Pakistan's lack of understanding of India's advanced defence capabilities, particularly the S-400 air defence system , pointing out that India's Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) grid provides a significant advantage as it could detect a wide range of threats from a considerable distance. "I want to clarify that they attacked, but their war strategy was so weak that they did not know what our S400 Air Defence System was... They did not have that much knowledge... Another advantage of India is that we use the UAS grid. This UAS grid can catch small targets. This combination can detect ballistic missiles, medium-level missiles, low-level missiles, fighter jets, helicopters and drones and detect from far enough," he stated. Live Events In contrast, Chafekar highlighted the limitations of Pakistan's HQ-9 air defence system, which lacks the capability to counter drones effectively. "But looking at the other side, Pakistan's HQ-9 system does not have the power to catch drones. So it's called war strategy. India utilised the weakness of Pakistan's air defence system," he explained. Defence expert Sanjay Kulkarni echoed the sentiment of India's preparedness and resolve, noting that Pakistan has employed a multifaceted approach, utilising cyber warfare, drones, and missiles in its efforts against India. "Pakistan has tried everything to wage war against India. Pakistan is using everything it has (against India). Be it cyber, be it drones, or be it missiles. It is using whatever it has," Kulkarni said. However, he stressed that India has not yet deployed its full arsenal but is poised to deliver a decisive response. "India hasn't used everything. But India will teach Pakistan a lesson. We have shut several airports, and blackouts have been implemented in several places," Kulkarni added. He underscored the capability of Indian security forces, stating, "Pakistan has seen the capability of Indian security forces and how united we are. If Pakistan wants to fight, then India will give a befitting reply." Their insights came following Pakistan's foiled attempt at a large-scale drone attack on Thursday targeting India's assets, including military and civilian structures. Pakistan's attempted retaliation came after Operation Sindoor , where the Indian Armed Forces targeted nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Wednesday. The operation was a direct response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
