Pune News : Petition filed in NGT Pune against pollution of Ram nadi

Krunnal Gharre, an Aam Aadmi Party leader from Bavdhan has filed a petition in National Green Tribunal, Pune against the increasing pollution of Ram Nadi. In his petition, Krunnal has stated that the Ram Nadi sees discharge of untreated sewage in Ramnadi polluting the river, its ancillary water bodies causing health hazards to citizens in the river vicinity, destruction of natural flora and fauna of the river and majorly the pollution caused to the freshwater streams. 

He further said, “Ramnadi, a major river that flows in Pune with confluence in Aundh is plagued with illegal encroachments, pollution, garbage dumping by citizens and to add to the woes willful neglect by the executive. The facts related to the above petition start with the garbage dumping and the broken sewage line near Ryan School under the NH bypass. This major drainage line was broken as per satellite imagery we have collected in 2018. This drainage line discharges over 5 to LPM per min of untreated sewage in the river, even with a conservative number of 1.5lpm it has discharged 153576000 litres of sewage from just one spot!’ 

He further stated that I have brought this to the notice of Pune Municipal Corporation and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board. Infcat MPCB has sent directions to PMC to repair this immediately, but PMC has dragged their feet on such a sensitive matter.” 

Krunaal further said, “Another spot near Vaidehi society in Bavdhan khurd has a notified fresh water spring that gives 1.5L litres of drinking water per day. This area has been under PMC since 1997. The same spot PMC has connected drainage lines to storm water lines and discharging untreated waste in this spring water. This discharge is over 933120000 litres or more. Multiple individuals, Social organizations have complained to save this fresh water which was and is a source of drinking water but PMC doesn’t seem to care to safeguard the same.  And these are just 2 identified points along the river stretch under PMC jurisdiction, not to mention the pollution caused by upstream villages.”  

The petition was filed on April 3, 2023 since PMC has failed to take cognisance of the complaints. We are hoping the tribunal will give necessary directions that will help safeguard the river. As citizens we had hoped for a more cooperative approach from the executive, but when the executive is sitting on a high pedestal  blinded by arrogance it leaves no option but to approach the judiciary to open their eyes. PMC decisions for the past 6 months reek of hypocrisy, On one hand they spend 100’s of crores on artificial beautification, non value adding inflated cost projects and on the other cannot spend few lakhs to repair a broken drainage stating lack of money . Their inaction is killing our river, destroying the health and sentiments of people and they are obviously not working in the best interest of citizens.