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Published on
March 13, 2022
March 13, 2022
Updated on
March 13, 2022
In early 2016, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) proposed the Pune Riverfront Development Project along the length and breadth of the Mula-Mutha rivers. The 44-kilometre-long Mula, Mutha and Mula-Mutha rivers** (the **latter is formed by the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers) flowing within the PMC limits are set to undergo a ‘rejuvenation’ under the beautification project, costing INR 4,727 crore. The Detailed Project Report states that the main objective is to clean the rivers and reduce flooding.
The project will require channelising and converting the two rivers into canals by constructing 30-40-feet-high concrete or stone embankments along their length. Additionally, barrages will be built on all three rivers near Garware College, Kaspate Vasti (Cantonment) and Mundhwa K.T. Weir.
Environmentalists and the Water Resources Department (WRD) have expressed concern. The WRD said, “While implementing the Riverfront Development Project on Mula, Mutha and Mula-Mutha rivers, care should be taken to not reduce the cross-section of the rivers.” However, the PMC seems to have ignored this advice as the project will allegedly narrow down the rivers in the process of building embankments, which will require land reclamation from the riverbed or floodplains. This, in turn, will affect groundwater aquifers and the city’s watertable. The barrages being built will cause the water, which is already sewage water, to stagnate and flow back into the streams, resulting in mosquito infestation. It will also lower the levels of dissolved oxygen and impact the last two remaining fish species (Mangur and Tilapia) in the rivers.
The Environmental Clearance for the project was also controversial and was allegedly rushed by the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). A report by the South Asian Network on Dams, Rivers and People claimed that the SEIAA ignored the basic elements of the project, such as according clearance in the absence of barrage experts in the committee. The assessment report also allegedly denied any form of demolition of houses along the rivers. Essentially, the project will not clean the rivers; instead, it will irreversibly destroy the rivers’ biodiversity and ecology, deplete groundwater table, make bridges and roads inaccessible** **and cause flooding and land submersion.
Environmentalists and civic activists have raised the issues with the WRD, but has not got any response so far. Some activists have petitioned the National Green Tribunal and the Bombay high court against the irregularities of the project. Despite the opposition, in October 2021, the PMC floated a tender worth INR 360 crore for the first phase of the project from Sangam Ghat to Bund Garden.
Complaint against procedural violations
Opposition against environmental degradation
Urban
Common
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
4727
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2016
Page Number In Investment Document:
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Non-consultation with stakeholders
Violation of environmental laws
Legal Status:
In Court
Status of Case In Court
Pending
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
National Green Tribunal (Western Zone)
Case Number
Appeal no. 12/2020, O.A. 49/2019 (WZ)
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Nature of Protest
Media-based activism/alternative media
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Pune Municipal Corporation, State Environment Impact Assessment Authority
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
HCP Design, Planning and Management Private Limited
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
LCW called up the office of the Pune Municipal Corporation but the call was transferred back and forth between many departments.
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Environmentalists, Fridays For Future Pune
Map showing Pune's water system
Image Credit:
Pune Municipal Corporation
Image Credit: