Pune: NGT Dismisses Opposition Petition; Mula-Mutha Riverbank Rejuvenation Project to Speed Up Work

Pune, 20th September 2024: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has dismissed the opposition petition against the Mula-Mutha riverbank rejuvenation project following the approval of revised environmental clearance. This decision enables the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to expedite work on the project.

The PMC began rejuvenation work between Sangamvadi and Bund Garden, as well as from Bund Garden to Mundhwa Bridge, in March 2022. So far, 85 percent of the work from Sangamvadi to Bund Garden has been completed, while 27 percent of the work between Bund Garden and Mundhwa Bridge is finished.

Following the project’s initiation, environmentally conscious citizens launched a campaign against it. Sarang Yadavadkar filed a petition with the NGT as the PMC continued its activities.

During the hearing, various environmental concerns were raised, including river flooding and tree cutting. In response, the NGT ordered the PMC to carry out work only after obtaining the revised environmental permit. Consequently, activities such as tree trimming and replanting were halted, leading to further delays in other related work.

To secure the revised environmental clearance, the PMC submitted a report to the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) along with technical information about the situation. However, delays occurred due to the lack of appointed SEIAA members, which postponed hearings and permission.

Recently, in a hearing at SEIAA, the PMC’s plan was deemed suitable, and permission was granted. The PMC then submitted the revised environmental clearance to the NGT. In today’s hearing, Yadavadkar’s petition was rejected, with Advocate Rahul Garg representing the PMC.

The riverbank rejuvenation project involves cleaning 44 km of the river surface in 11 phases, with a total expenditure of ₹4,727 crore.