Rs 15,000 Cr Fine Demanded for River Destruction
• PMC, PCMC Face Eco Backlash Over River Work
• Activists Slam Civic Chiefs for Killing Rivers
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Sprouts News Exclusive
Contact: +91 9322755098
Activists have demanded a Rs 15,000 crore fine against PMC and PCMC Commissioners for allegedly damaging rivers under a government-funded rejuvenation project. Citing environmental violations and wildlife harm, they’ve also threatened criminal action against PM Modi. The controversy questions urban planning ethics and the misuse of public funds in river restoration.
In a major development shaking Pune’s civic administration, activists have issued legal notices demanding a combined fine of Rs 15,000 crores against the Municipal Commissioners of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. The notices target Dr. Rajendra Bhosale (PMC) and Shekhar Singh (PCMC), accusing them of criminal negligence in executing riverfront projects that allegedly destroyed natural riverbeds and aquatic ecosystems.
The activists argue that while PMC and PCMC are implementing a Central Government-funded River Rejuvenation project worth Rs 7,000 crores, they have, paradoxically, damaged the very rivers they intended to restore—Mula, Mutha, and Indrayani. J. Kumar Infra Projects Ltd and Shirke Construction Company are the contractors involved in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad, respectively.
Violation of Environmental Norms: Activists Cite Precedent from Ulhasnagar, Chikhali
The controversy escalated when activists drew comparisons to penalties levied on smaller entities. A housing society in Ulhasnagar was fined Rs 10 crores for dumping just 10 brass of mud into Ulhas river, while 34 homeowners in Chikhali paid Rs 5 crores for depositing debris near the blue floodline of River Indrayani. Activists argue that, in comparison, the PMC and PCMC dumped thousands of brass of material into riverbeds, yet face no accountability.
According to the Sprouts News Team, this legal paradox raises questions about equal enforcement of environmental regulations. The activists contend that if citizens face heavy fines for minor offenses, municipal corporations should be held to the same—if not stricter—standards.
Wildlife Warden Flags Project; Central Environmental Approval in Doubt
The Union Environment Ministry’s Pune appointee, Aditya Paranjpaye, who also serves as the Honorary District Wildlife Warden, has formally red-flagged the riverfront development. In a letter to relevant authorities, Paranjpaye cited irreversible damage to aquatic life and habitat loss for wild animals along the riverbanks.
Additionally, the State Water Resources Department (WRD) has issued four notices to the Commissioners, highlighting illegal encroachments that have drastically reduced river cross-sections, affecting flood mitigation and river health. This has intensified calls for halting the project until environmental clearances are verified and re-evaluated.
Legal Heat on Prime Minister Modi: Activists Threaten Criminal Complaint
In a rare escalation, activists have issued three legal notices to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding clarification regarding the project’s legal standing. Modi had performed the bhoomi pujan (groundbreaking ceremony) in May 2022 for the PMC-PCMC river rejuvenation initiatives.
The Sprouts News Team has obtained a copy of the notice, which warns of criminal prosecution against the Prime Minister and senior officials unless the project is stayed immediately. The activists argue that the Prime Minister was misled by civic officials, and now holds moral responsibility for launching what they describe as an “illegal and ecologically destructive” initiative.
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Deadline Nears for Legal Action; All Eyes on Pune’s Riverfront Fiasco
The activists have given the government only a few days to act. If no action is taken, they plan to file a criminal case in the first week of June, potentially naming Modi and the municipal commissioners as co-accused. This move is unprecedented in recent urban policy discourse and is already stirring political debate.
As this high-stakes battle unfolds, questions loom large about the future of India’s urban rejuvenation strategies. The Sprouts News Team will continue monitoring the situation closely, ensuring updates on this landmark case of urban environmental accountability and public infrastructure mismanagement.
