NGT effect: Pune civic body gets Rs.2.69 crore to clear Mutha riverbed debris

After a National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, the standing committee of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved Rs.2.69 crore to remove debris dumped on the Mutha riverbed.

The PMC had constructed a road from Warje to Vitthalwadi, along the Mutha river, which had caused much debris to find its way to the riverbed.

The NGT asked the PMC to remove the debris within a period of three months or recover the environment impact cost from PMC officers’ salaries. 

As the NGT came down heavily on the PMC over the issue of the riverside road, the administration immediately put the proposal of removing the debris before the standing committee.

Standing Committee chairman Murlidhar Mohol said that the committee had approved Rs.2.69 crore for removing the debris. The tender was 20% below the estimated cost and the PMC approved it, according to Mohol. 

City-based activists had approached the NGT since the civic body had disregarded the NGT’s orders regarding construction along the river, despite being given an extension three times. 

The initial petition was filed in the year 2013 by civic activist Sarang Yadwadkar. The court ordered the PMC to remove the road. The case also reached the Supreme Court but the higher court too continued NGT’s order, said advocate Asim Sarode. 

The Pune Municipal Corporation constructed a 3.5-km road from Warje to Vitthalwadi along the Mutha river. The court asked the civic body to remove the entire road as it is falls below the flood line, but the PMC was not able to do so as some housing society members on that stretch opposed the move. The residents appealed that it was the only approach road for them. 

PMC had planned this road along the riverbed as there was no alternative route besides Sinhagad Road in the area. The road work was almost in its final stages, but civic activists opposed it and said that it could create a flood-like situation in the city. 

 PMC is of the view that if this road gets completed, it will help decongest traffic on Sinhagad Road. Sources in the PMC said that the civic body also gave permission to some of the housing societies on the basis of this road. 

Road below the flood line

- PMC constructed the road in between the Pune-Mumbai bypass, from Warje to Vitthalwadi 

- Distance of road is 3.5-km 

- PMC completed 65% work of the road when civic activists approached NGT 

- PMC spent almost ₹15 crore to erect this road 

- After NGT’s order, PMC spent ₹4.5 crore to remove debris from the riverbed