Pune River Revival (PRR), a group of over 60 civic organisations working towards reviving and rejuvenating rivers in the city, has consistently been vocal against the Riverfront Development Project (RFD) of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). Recently, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) allocated 17 acres of land in Yerawada to the PMC to execute the project. However, PRR has opposed this move.
In a letter to the MoD, Prajakta Mahajan, an activist associated with PRR, said, "I am writing to formally object to the decision of allocating 17 acres of defence land to the PMC for its RFD project. While urban development is important, this particular project poses a severe threat to the natural ecosystem of the river and its riparian zone. The construction of promenades, jogging tracks and embankments under the guise of riverfront development is, in reality, an encroachment on the river's natural floodplain. Such interventions significantly disrupt the delicate biodiversity of the riparian zone, which serves as a critical habitat for various flora and fauna."
"The destruction of this natural buffer will have far-reaching adverse effects on the ecological balance, including reduced groundwater recharge, increased urban heat, loss of biodiversity and heightened flood risks. Moreover, this project does not qualify as an essential service and appears to be an unnecessary use of public funds, particularly when there are more pressing civic and environmental concerns in the city," she added.
Mahajan, a former IT professional, further urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the MoD to reconsider their decision to allocate the land for this project. She has also urged fellow environmentalists from Pune to write similar letters to the MoD and express their concerns.
PRR had recently organised a protest called 'Chipko River March' against the RFD project. Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, actor Sayaji Shinde and hundreds of Punekars participated in the march from Kalmadi School in Baner to the Ram-Mula confluence.
