Pune: Dr. Medha Kulkarni Inspects Ram-Mula Sangam, Calls for Preservation of Riverbed and Trees
Pune: Dr. Medha Kulkarni Inspects Ram-Mula Sangam, Calls for Preservation of Riverbed and Trees
Pune: Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Medha Kulkarni conducted a site visit at the Ram-Mula Sangam, raising pressing concerns over the ongoing Riverfront Development project. Accompanied by Pune Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, municipal officials, environmentalists, and local citizens, Dr. Kulkarni urged authorities to prioritize ecological balance by keeping the riverbed intact and halting tree cutting.
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The Riverfront Development project spans a 44-kilometer stretch and is backed by a ₹4,700 crore investment from central and state governments. While the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is complete, Dr. Kulkarni pointed out several discrepancies in the report and the implementation of the project. She specifically noted the narrowing of the riverbed and the felling of 200-year-old trees near Bundgarden, issues for which she has lodged a formal complaint with Union Minister C.R. Patil.
Recent surveys have marked trees in untouched stretches, raising alarms among environmentalists. Dr. Kulkarni emphasized that construction should cease in areas where the DPR is yet to be finalized, particularly where river filling has commenced.
During the visit, it was revealed that 300 truckloads of construction debris had been dumped into the Mula riverbed, further exacerbating environmental concerns. “The riverbed must remain wide and intact, and no trees should be felled,” Dr. Kulkarni stated, warning of potential flooding risks caused by reduced river capacity.
The ongoing work has been temporarily halted, and Dr. Kulkarni announced plans for a meeting involving Divisional Commissioner Dr. Mahesh Pulkundwar, PMC and PCMC officials, and environmental groups to resolve the issues.
The inspection was attended by prominent officials, including PMC Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, Executive Engineer Bipin Shinde, and environmentalists such as Shailaja Deshpande of Jeevitnadi Sanstha.
