Unauthorized Approvals of 29 Housing Projects on Pavana River Floodplain Raise Flood Risk
Unauthorized Approvals of 29 Housing Projects on Pavana River Floodplain Raise Flood Risk
Pimpri-Chinchwad, July 29 – A major scandal has emerged involving the approval of over 29 housing projects along the Pavana River floodplain between 2016 and 2019. Despite lacking proper authority, an executive engineer from the Irrigation Department issued no-objection certificates (NOCs) to developers, allegedly at the behest of then Minister of State for Urban Development, Dr. Ranjit Patil.
These projects have obstructed the river’s flow and increased flood risks, as evidenced by recent torrential rains that inundated the newly constructed areas, affecting thousands of households. The issue began when builders sought permissions for construction within the river’s blue and red flood lines, but the municipal corporation initially denied these requests.
Builders then approached the ministry and obtained approval after a joint hearing involving the developers, municipal authorities, and the Irrigation Department. Subsequently, the PCMC was instructed to resurvey and update the riverbed maps. The executive engineer issued NOCs based on these revised maps, allowing construction in flood-prone areas.
The revised flood maps led to the approval of numerous projects, which now pose significant flood risks. The chief engineer of the Water Resources Department has criticized the validity of these permissions, stating that only the regional chief engineer has the authority to approve such maps.
The Water Resources Department has demanded that the municipal corporation address these illegal constructions and remove any obstructions to the river’s flow. This situation underscores the severe consequences of unauthorized construction in flood-prone areas.
