Pune: The Mula River rejuvenation project in Pimpri-Chinchwad is facing serious criticism after it was revealed that thousands of brass of soil and stones have been dumped into the riverbed without proper authorization for minor mineral excavation. Allegations have surfaced against the contractor responsible for the project, with claims of environmental violations and deliberate alterations to the river’s natural flow.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has taken a firm stand on the issue, demanding that an Electronic Total Station (ETS) survey be carried out to assess the exact volume of soil and debris deposited into the river. Despite this demand, the local Tehsildar’s office has reportedly delayed initiating the necessary survey work.
The project, which covers an 8.8-kilometre stretch on one side of the Mula River in Pimple Nilakh, has already led to the felling of numerous trees along the riverbanks. In some areas, trees have even been buried under layers of dumped soil. This unchecked dumping activity has narrowed the riverbed significantly, altering its natural width and disrupting its ecosystem.
Environmentalists and local residents have raised alarms over what they say is the illegal encroachment and degradation of riverbeds across the region. In many places, private landowners are dumping soil and construction debris into the river in an attempt to reclaim land, effectively transforming sections of the river into narrow drains.
Critics argue that under the guise of river “rejuvenation,” the contractor has been concreting, landscaping, and erecting cement walls along the river’s edge—without securing the proper permissions or acquiring adjacent lands. These activities, they claim, are drastically altering the river’s natural course and threatening its rich biodiversity.
AAP leader Raviraj Kale has formally submitted a letter demanding immediate action, including an ETS survey to determine the extent of unauthorized dumping and penalties for illegal minor mineral excavation. He emphasized that without intervention, continued ecological damage is inevitable.
The controversy highlights a growing concern over the impact of urban development projects on natural water bodies, and the urgent need for transparency, regulation, and environmental accountability.
