Pune: RTI Findings Link NHAI To Pashan Lake Fish Deaths, Expose Lapses In Sewage Management
Pune: RTI Findings Link NHAI To Pashan Lake Fish Deaths, Expose Lapses In Sewage Management
Pune, April 17, 2026: As the investigation into the ecological catastrophe at Pashan Lake that led to the death of thousands of fishes proceeds, the sheer scale of administrative rot is becoming visible. New evidence obtained through Right to Information (RTI) disclosures has identified the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) as a critical additional party responsible for the toxic environment that led to the mass death of fish. The documents expose how NHAI’s negligence and blatant disregard for environmental protocols turned a service road into a massive source of pollution.
Official records from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) confirm that during excavation work at the Bavdhan Service road, NHAI damaged a major drainage line. This vital line was specifically installed by the PMC following prior National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders to safeguard the lake’s health. Instead of immediate repair, the damage was left to fester, resulting in over *200,000 liters of raw sewage* flowing daily into the storm lines and eventually into the river system feeding Pashan Lake.
Advocate Krunnal Gharre who shared the document has strongly condemned the nature of these findings:
“The investigation is finally unmasking the multiple layers of responsibility behind this disaster. The rot is becoming visible; it wasn’t just one failure, but a series of negligent acts by different authorities. Currently, raw sewage is effectively converting the storm line NHAI was building into an open gutter system. This massive, sustained flow occurring in such close proximity to the lake is a direct contributor to the water toxicity that killed thousands of fish. The sheer shamelessness of NHAI officials, who refused to repair what they broke despite multiple PMC warnings, is a stain on public administration. It is a pathetic and disgraceful mindset. I promise that more parties will be revealed as my investigation proceeds. Polluters will pay”
The records prove that PMC officials explicitly warned NHAI of the serious health risks, including Dengue and Malaria outbreaks, and the “serious” nature of the damage. Despite a formal request and multiple reminders, NHAI abandoned the site midway, allowing the toxic flow that continues to date.
Adv. Gharre noted that his efforts to coordinate a solution with NHAI were met with a “loop of passing the buck” between officials, highlighting a systemic refusal to take accountability. He insists that the MPCB and PMC must now move beyond the current investigation and also look at NHAI’s and other bodies and hold them legally and financially accountable.
