The Maharashtra environment and climate change department on June 12 ordered multiple government bodies to conduct a thorough inquiry into the Pune riverfront development (RFD) project and submit a fact-finding report. This follows formal complaints filed by MLA Aaditya Thackeray and activist Sarang Yadwadkar alleging severe environmental violations in the project.
Authorities Directed to Investigate
The letter from the department was addressed to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the water resources department (WRD), the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), and the regional office of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
The missive listed major objections raised in the complaints against the RFD project, including a “fundamentally flawed” hydraulic report where flood level measurements are inconsistent with reality, artificial narrowing of the riverbed hindering river flow in violation of WRD circulars, and PMC’s inaction in holding a meeting and conducting a site inspection despite WRD’s request.
Gravity of Issues
The letter has asked concerned officials to submit a report considering the gravity of the issues raised by the complainants. It further stated that environmental clearance was granted to the Pune river rejuvenation project by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) on November 12.
“However, Sarang Yadwadkar has filed a complaint alleging that serious flaws and violations of environmental regulations are occurring during the implementation of the said project. Furthermore, Member of Legislative Assembly Aaditya Thackeray has requested an immediate stay on the project work until the final inquiry report of the committee concerned is received, in order to prevent potential future flooding and hazards,” said the letter.
Activist's Allegations
On Tuesday, Yadwadkar told TOI, “We had challenged the Environmental Clearance (EC) for the project before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which had directed the authorities to obtain a fresh clearance. Every EC is granted by the SEIAA under the MoEFCC. While granting the EC, the SEIAA had imposed a condition, requiring PMC to strictly follow WRD’s circular dated May 3, 2018. This particular circular clearly states, on three separate occasions, that under no circumstances can the cross-section of the river be altered or changed. This means the river’s width, flow and other physical characteristics cannot be modified. However, every inch of the RFD project has altered the river’s cross-section. This is a complete violation of the EC condition.”
The activist further said that the hydraulic study report submitted to the MoEFCC is flawed. “While assessing flood risk, the report considered only dam releases and ignored the huge volume of water entering the river through rainfall and surface runoff from the free catchment area. For example, the report accounts for discharge from the Khadakwasla dam, but does not consider rainwater and surface runoffs entering the river between Khadakwasla dam and Pune city. This area, known as the free catchment area, covers around 1,600-1,700 sq km. How can such a large volume of water be excluded from the hydraulic assessment? Submitting a flawed hydraulic study report for the EC is in itself a fraud,” he stated.
Previous Complaints
When Yadwadkar submitted his first letter pointing out these concerns to the MoEFCC in March 2023, the ministry directed the MPCB, WRD and PMC to conduct site visits and meetings with him and submit a report. “The MoEFCC issued its first letter on April 13 this year, but no action was taken. After MLA Thackeray sent a letter on the issue, independently and on his own initiative, the ministry issued a fresh communication. On Tuesday, I received an email from the MPCB informing me that the first site visit will be conducted at the Mula-Mutha confluence next Monday,” he said.
PMC's Response
Meanwhile, PMC has denied any wrongdoing and maintained that all norms have been followed in the pursuit of the RFD project. Dinkar Gojare, chief engineer (special projects department) at PMC, said, “The project was planned in 2016. We obtained a hydraulic report approved by the state irrigation department and later by the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS). We secured the EC and complied with all conditions imposed on us. In 2021, we finally started the project. From the NGT to the Supreme Court, their (the citizens’) case has been dismissed eight times by different courts because we have complied with all prescribed norms.”
Gojare said that instead of cutting short the width of the river, they are increasing it in the project by acquiring land. “In the Baner-Balewadi area, the river width is just 100m now, whereas under this project, we are expanding it to 140m by acquiring private land in several places. This project has been designed to withstand floods for the next 100 years and has been vetted by CWPRS. How can they claim that we are curtailing the river’s flow? Due to their protests, we have not been able to carry out desilting work at several locations along the river for the past three years. Isn’t that itself a flood risk?” he said.
Gojare alleged, “I understand that most people want what is best for the river and the environment, and so do we. However, some individuals are deliberately delaying the project through one means or another, and that is wrong.”
