Pune: Ganeshkhind road STP status report sought from PMC
Pune: Ganeshkhind road STP status report sought from PMC
The Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board has requested a status report from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) regarding the proposed 10 MLD sewage treatment plant (STP) to be constructed on the Ganeshkhind garden premises, owned by the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyalay (MPKV) in Aundh. The request came through a letter dated June 12, following complaints from concerned citizens.
Citizens Chaitanya Ket, Meghana Bhandari, Gangotri Chanda, and Ameet Singh have opposed the project, arguing it would necessitate the felling of 50 trees in the biodiversity heritage site (BHS). They filed a written complaint with the board on June 5, prompting the board to question the PMC.
Bhandari stated that the project threatens the garden’s BHS status and would disrupt ongoing research activities conducted by MPKV college staff and students. Additionally, she noted that the presence of construction activities and tanker movements would disturb the local fauna.
In 2023, MPKV initially refused permission for the project due to its BHS status. However, in January, the state government granted in-principle approval for PMC to acquire the land for the STP.
Ket highlighted that the site hosts over 4,000 trees that would be adversely affected by the project, deeming the proposed location unsustainable. He called on the biodiversity board to revoke any permissions granted and urged PMC to consider alternative locations on their land.
MPKV officials claimed that PMC had not sought permission from the biodiversity board or the college’s executive council for the project. A senior college official indicated that if the STP is deemed necessary, appropriate rules must be followed.
Jagdish Khanore, superintendent engineer of the JICA project drainage department, stated that the STP is intended to treat sewage from Aundh and Bopodi and would require only 0.3 hectares out of the total 33 hectares of land. He explained that the JICA project is under the purview of the Centre’s Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change. While MPKV initially approved the land usage for the STP, a change in the college dean led to objections.
Following several meetings, the state government instructed a rewrite of the proposal, which was then submitted to and approved by the biodiversity board.
Khanore mentioned that they have received permission for soil testing and are prepared to explain the environmental benefits of the STP if they receive further inquiries from the board.
