“Save the River Before It’s Too Late”: Citizens Urge PCMC to Protect Mula River Biodiversity
“Save the River Before It’s Too Late”: Citizens Urge PCMC to Protect Mula River Biodiversity
Pimpri-Chinchwad, May 18, 2026: Concerned citizens and environmental activists came together this week to speak for a river they say is slowly losing its natural identity amid rapid urban development.
Representatives of the citizen group Pune PCMC River Revival met Dr Vijay Suryawanshi, Additional Commissioner Vikrant Bagade and Mayor Ravibhau Langde to raise concerns over the future of the Mula River and its fragile ecosystem.
During the meeting, the group submitted a detailed representation and presentation highlighting the rich biodiversity that exists along the riverbanks — from wetlands and grasslands to riparian forests that support birds, aquatic life and native plant species.
Activists warned that sections of the proposed Riverfront Development (RFD) project could damage these sensitive habitats if ecological concerns are ignored during planning and execution.
Members of the delegation said the issue goes beyond beautification projects and concrete structures. For many residents, the river is a living ecosystem that has supported biodiversity and local communities for generations.
“The riverbanks are not empty land waiting for development. They are home to countless species and play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance in the city,” one participant said during the discussion.
According to the group, the meeting received a positive response from the civic administration. Commissioner Dr Vijay Suryawanshi reportedly acknowledged the ecological importance of the riparian zones and assured the delegation that the existing plans would be suitably modified to protect the riverbank ecosystem.
The activists welcomed the assurance but stressed that river conservation must remain science-based, transparent and participatory, with citizens and environmental experts involved in decision-making.
There was also broad agreement during the meeting that cleaning and rejuvenating polluted rivers should become the top priority before any large-scale infrastructure or beautification work is undertaken.
The delegation included Shubham Pande, Tushar Shinde, Suryakant Muthiyan, Shailaja Deshpande, Prajakta Mahajan, Sanjeev Naik, Rahul Karambelkar and Kalyan Mane, who said their effort is aimed at ensuring that future generations inherit a living river and not merely a concrete channel.
