NGT wants PMC to remove Warje-Vitthalwadi road debris in 3 months

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) came down heavily on the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and instructed the civic body to remove the debris dumped from the Mutha riverbed. The PMC had constructed a road from Warje to Vitthalwadi alongside the Mutha river. The court asked PMC to remove the debris within a period of three months or recover the environment impact cost from PMC officer’s salary. 

City based activists had approached the NGT since the civic body had disregarded the NGT’s orders regarding construction along the riverbed 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. 

Sarode said that the court had also asked the PMC to conduct a massive plantation exercise on the riverside. 

The Pune Municipal Corporation constructed a 3.5-km road in between Warje to Vitthalwadi, along the Mutha river. The court asked the civic body to remove the entire road as it is falls in the flood line but 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.  

Activists allege that despite the deadline being extended thrice in the past four years, the conditions set by the tribunal have not been followed and the current condition of debris may be a catalyst in case of flooding. 

The PMC had spent ₹4.5 crore to remove the debris. It will require more funds to remove the debris, said officers from the road department. 

PMC had planned this road along the riverbed as there is no alternative road to Sinhagad road. The road work was almost in its final stage but civic activists opposed it and blamed that it would 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. 

Box 

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

- Distance of road is 3.5-km 

- PMC completed 65% work of the road when the civic activist 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