Public protests bear fruit: PMC to revise riverfront development project plans affecting Ramnadi-Mula devrai

PUNE: The PMC will revise its riverfront development (RFD) project plans affecting the Ramnadi-Mula devrai (sacred grove), after facing stark opposition from residents and activists. Civic officials on Thursday confirmed that no trees will be felled at the eight-hectare site, which lines over 800 metres of riverbanks. Further, no concreting activities will be conducted at the location.
Mukund Shinde, deputy engineer of Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) projects department, told TOI, "Except for building gabion walls at sites of soil erosion, filling of soil at exposed tree roots, and erecting a few water velocity-reducing structures, no other activity will be conducted here under the RFD project. We will also seek recommendations on protection of wildlife and trees at the location from the forest department before we proceed with any work. We will only undertake any activity at the site if the public is okay with it. We will also ensure not to disturb the region during the nesting period of birds."
The move comes as a win for residents, who had fiercely been opposing the potential degradation of the devrai for the infra project. TOI has published a series of reports since Feb this year, highlighting the agitation.
On Thursday, PMC officials conducted a site visit at the devrai at 9.30am with engineers of both the Mula-Mutha RFD project wings and of the Mula-Mutha river rejuvenation project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Range forest officer Manoj Barbole and several citizens were also in attendance.
Days ago, the Pune forest division had recommended a halt on all project activities in the region until an alternative plan was suggested by PMC. The recommendation was made after Barbole conducted a site visit and highlighted the ecological sensitivity of the site, urging for it be declared a community reserve post-survey and demarcation.
The forest department's visit followed a directive from the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC), asking forest officials to assess the impact of the RFD project and conduct a survey, based on a petition received from Pune resident Vandana Chaudhary on environmental destruction at the river confluence.
Another battle looms
Meanwhile, citizens have also raised strong objections to the laying of a 4km drainage pipeline through the devrai under the JICA project, urging authorities to reroute it outside the sensitive forest area. They have called for relocating a proposed sewage treatment plant (STP) to an alternative site that wouldn't render it useless during monsoons.
"This is an ecologically sensitive zone, as declared by a 2022 National Green Tribunal (NGT) order. Any activity here violates that mandate and harms wildlife," said resident Pushkar Kulkarni, who attended Thursday's site visit.
However, PMC officials argued that the STP is essential for pollution control and other sites require 60 feet of digging. In response, citizens insist that the designs be revised to reduce environmental impact. Chaudhary told TOI, "Authorities must strongly consider the impact of this project on wildlife. We need them to revise their designs."
Sushil Tayade, deputy engineer from the JICA project, said, "We can avoid work during nesting periods and work around trees. We're open to citizens' suggestions."
A long way to go
Despite the latest development, citizens remain sceptical of the overall ongoing project on Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's (PCMC) end. They pointed to this area's flood-prone nature and rich biodiversity, which includes Schedule-1 species like yellow-crowned woodpeckers and Indian flapshell turtles.
"Projects like RFD need to be looked at with all possible methods — there might be multiple sensitive sites alongside the riverbanks. The corporations should look at these projects holistically," said citizen Shubha Kulkarni.
Residents flagged myriad unaddressed issues, including the impact of RFD work and sand mining on the PCMC's side, alleging that several roosting and nesting sites of birds have already been destroyed here. They demanded that JICA project sewage pipelines be shifted away from known nesting areas along the river, and highlighted that the embankments on both sides of the river are going to ruin the forest, which the wildlife depends on.
Shailaja Deshpande, founder of Jeevitnadi, said, "There are over 10 important habitats in this region. Stakeholders must collaborate to protect all sensitive zones, irrespective of jurisdiction. There's also a proposed 20-metre-wide road cutting through the area, but the authorities have no answers."
Barbole told TOI, "Once we receive the corporation's assurance in writing, we will proceed with giving suggestions and taking the next step for the region."
TIMELINE
Nov 12, 2024: PMC gets environment clearance (EC) for RFD project
Feb 5, 2025: Vandana Chaudhary writes to MoEFCC seeking halt on project at devrai
Feb 9, 2025: Massive Chipko rally by citizens to protest devrai destruction
March 7, 2025: Ministry tells state forest department to assess, submit action report
April 2, 2025: RFO Manoj Barbole conducts site visit
April 8, 2025: Barbole writes to forest dept head seeking halt on project; pushes to declare site as ‘community reserve'
April 15, 2025: PMC, forest officials meet
April 17, 2025: Site visit to devrai; PMC claims to halt all activities at site, revise project plans to exclude devrai