Lonavala: Allowing encroachment along the Indrayani river has cost the Lonavla Municipal Council dear, as the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has slapped it with a fine of Rs 5 lakh, which will be raised by another Rs 5 lakh, if the civic body fails to pay up within eight days. Bhushi survey number 24 runs along the banks of the Indrayani. At some spots, soil has been dumped and walls built, altering the course of the river. Activists Suresh Pujary and Ashish Shinde have revealed this by filing an application under the Right to Information Act. They have submitted a plea to the NGT. A hearing on February 27 revealed how the Lonavla Municipal Council failed to take action.
The NGT ordered the civic officials to make their submissions within 30 days. However, the chief officer, Satish Pawar, ignored the order and did not submit any reply. As a result, on May 1, the NGT took serious cognisance and fined the council Rs 5 lakh. The chief executive officer, Vaibhav Aaware told the NGT, a committee, which includes the tehsildar and officials of the irrigation department, had been set up to look into the encroachment. However, as they were busy with election duty, there was a delay in filing the report. He admitted it was the responsibility of the council to ensure there was no encroachment and assured that the council would shortly present its version in court.
