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.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Complaint against procedural violations
Opposition against environmental degradation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Urban
Type of Land
Common
Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Source/Reference
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
4727
Type of investment:
Cost of Project
Year of Estimation
2016
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.
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
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?
Yes
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
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Anjali is an activist working for intersectional, anti-caste and democratic social and environmental justice. She graduated in Sociology and Anthropology with Environmental Studies from Ashoka University. She is a member of the Yugma Network, a pan-Indian youth initiative working towards achieving ground-level environmental justice through conversations, campaigns, education, art and law. Aditi is also the co-founder of The Project Amara, a Pune and NCR-based initiative to ensure sustainable and equitable menstruation. She loves marine ecology and insects and is particularly interested in working at the intersection of economics, policies, environment and justice.
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