Pune ZP Faces Flak As NGT Imposes Penalty Over Pawana River Case Delay, Flags PMRDA Data Errors
Pune ZP Faces Flak As NGT Imposes Penalty Over Pawana River Case Delay, Flags PMRDA Data Errors
Pune, July 23, 2025: In a major embarrassment for the Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) the National Green Tribunal (Western Zone Bench, Pune) has imposed a cost of ₹10,000 for its year-long failure to appear in the Pawana River pollution matter. Although ZP was served notice in August 2024 and received two reminders, it failed to respond until July 17, 2025 . After nearly a year of inaction ZP then appeared without any instructions or documents. The Tribunal held this as a cause for delay and imposed costs accordingly.
The case, filed and argued in-person by Adv. Krunnal Gharre, concerns the critical pollution levels in the Pawana River, classified as a ‘Priority-I’ polluted river by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Another major concern raised by Adv. Krunnal Gharre was discrepancy in PMRDA’s DPR which relies on data that states there are 15 polluting nallas. However, a letter from COEP University already submitted to PMRDA earlier clearly records the actual number as 20. The arbitrary reduction of 25% of polluting Nalas was acknowledged by the tribunal and PMRDA has now engaged a third-party expert body to study the concerns raised and submit a response within 2 months.
“The Pawana River isn’t just a polluted water body, it’s a symbol of how casually our institutions treat environmental collapse,” said Adv. Krunnal Gharre.
The developments raise critical concerns about accountability in environmental governance and raises questions on institutional apathy .
