HC junks plea against 9km riverfront development stretch after PMC word on maintaining compensatory plantations
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) submitted that it had planted 7,469 trees till July 11 against phase-wise permissions granted between Oct 14, 2024, and Feb 24, 2025, by the PMC Tree Authority to cut 1,302 trees and replant 1,843 trees. The civic body also said it would ensure that these trees were maintained properly.
The bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V Marne said on July 11, "Needless to state that in case any further proposal is made to the Tree Authority for cutting of trees for the purposes of the project in question, petitioners shall be at liberty to raise an objection, if so advised."
You Can Also Check:
Pune AQI
|
Weather in Pune
|
Bank Holidays in Pune
|
Public Holidays in Pune
Lawyer Abhijit Kulkarni, who represented the PMC, told TOI, "We brought to the court's notice that we have followed all the legal procedures. The PIL was filed in March this year as an afterthought against the permissions granted much earlier, only to stall the ambitious RFD project. It has an environmental clearance from the central govt's environment ministry."
"As early as in April this year, we filed an affidavit-in-reply, bringing to the HC's notice that 60% of the project work had been completed as per permissions granted.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Se você sofre com dores no joelho. Leia isso antes que seja deletado
Vida Sem Dores
Hence, the PIL was an indirect way of blocking the project. This was the fourth attempt to stall the project in the name of environmental concerns," he said.
Activist Shalvi Pawar and others had filed the PIL assailing the validity of Resolution No. 1/14/ permission passed by the chairman of the Pune Municipal Corporation's Tree Authority on Oct 14, 2024, on the ground that the same was in violation of the Maharashtra (Urban Areas) Protection and Preservation of Trees Act, 1975.
The petitioners pleaded directions to quash and set aside the approvals given on Dec 6, 2024, Dec 10, 2024 and Dec 11, 2024, by the assistant municipal commissioner, PMC, and to restrain the chairman, Tree Authority, from felling and replantation of trees for the RFD project.
The PMC stated in its affidavit on April 27, 2025, "The permission to cut trees for River Rejuvenation Project has been considered by the PMC in phase wise manner.
As of date, six permissions have been granted by the Tree Authority to cut a total of 1,302 trees and transplant 1,843 trees along around 9km length of the Mula-Mutha. Out of the said permissions, cutting of 997 trees and transplantation of 859 have been completed, and further work is in progress.
Simultaneously, along with the cutting and/or transplantation of trees, the execution of the River Rejuvenation Project is also going on at the site."
The PMC lawyer submitted on July 11 that the remaining trees had also been cut /transplanted after April 27, 2025, and the phase concerned of project had been executed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Bombay HC directs new development plan, prompt steps to improve infrastructure and regulate development in Lonavala-Khandala region
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed the Lonavala Municipal Council and the state govt to prepare new development plan, take prompt steps to augment and improve the infrastructural facilities in the Lonavala-Khandala region. This includes the provision of water supply, solid waste management, sewerage, stormwater drainage systems, maintenance, repairs, and widening of roads. The court also directed the council to act against unauthorised constructions within its jurisdiction in Lonavala. The High Court directed that the municipal council must publicise its grievance redressal mechanism and, along with the state formulate a fresh set of Development Control Regulations for the twin-hillstations. This is to ensure that new constructions in the region are carried out strictly in accordance with the infrastructural facilities, the HC bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne directed while disposing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Lonavala Khandala Citizens Forum and applications filed by others. "If the ecology of the region is not protected, the whole charm of the Lonavala-Khandala region would be lost," the judgment authored by Justice Marne observed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Desert Order Undo It added that measures must be adopted so "that the ecology of the hill towns is maintained and is not destroyed by uncontrolled development coupled with a lack of requisite infrastructure." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The PIL, filed in 2007, sought to highlight the plight of the local residents of the Lonavala-Khandala region and aimed at improving the civic amenities and regulating the construction activities in the region, the High Court noted. It sought to highlight activities occurring in the Lonavala-Khandala region that put a huge strain on infrastructural facilities like water supply, sewerage, solid waste management, roads, and traffic. The twin hill stations, one of the most popular weekend getaways, are fast losing their charm due to rapid urbanisation and tourism. The High Court observed, "As the weekend getaway became more and more popular, with the number of tourists on a given monsoon weekend crossing two lakh, garbage heaps and blocked drainages became a regular feature of the otherwise scenic paradise, which started getting marred by uncontrolled constructions and lack of basic civic amenities. " It noted that the PIL and proactive citizens sought to highlight how authorities "have abandoned duties of proper civic governance, which is in violation of the Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which includes the Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment." Noting the "alarming situation," the PIL highlighted that the High Court passed various interim orders in 2007, and in 2008, a report submitted in court pointed to lacunas on the part of the civic administration over infrastructural aspects. Following an order of April 2014, a new mechanism was created under which all proposals received by the Municipal Council in respect of large-scale developments were directed to be examined by an expert committee. The High Court, after a detailed hearing and analysing the four main issues of requisite infrastructure, action under unauthorised constructions, controlling new construction, and necessary regulations to govern development in the region, directed that it would also be open to the state govt to consider the inclusion of the Lonavala-Khandala region in the list of hill stations for the purpose of applicability of Special Regulations. The petitioner would be at liberty to make a representation to the state govt for that purpose.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Ganpati idols up to 6 feet must be immersed in artificial tanks, says Bombay HC
MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed that Ganpati idols made of plaster of Paris (PoP), which are up to 6 feet, shall be mandatorily immersed in artificial water bodies. This paves the way for the implementation of the state govt's policy that permits the immersion of larger idols in natural water bodies like rivers and seas. 'The local bodies shall ensure that plaster of Paris idols, which are less than 6 feet in height, are mandatorily immersed in artificial water ponds only,' directed Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep Marne. They said interim directions shall also apply to Navratri and other festivals until March 2026. The court heard a PIL, including by nine clay-based idol makers, seeking implementation of the May 2020 revised guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) May 2020 revised guidelines that banned the manufacture and sale of PoP idols. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The court also heard a petition by PoP idol-makers who challenged the ban. On May 21 , the CPCB's expert committee clarified that the guidelines are 'advisory in nature,' but added that immersion shall not be allowed in natural bodies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Redefine Your Future with a Top Online MBA JAIN Online Learn More Undo The High Court on June 9 directed the state to take a policy decision on immersion. On Wednesday, the State's policy was submitted with guidelines including that idols below 5 feet have to be mandatorily immersed in artificial water tanks. Idols above 5 feet can be immersed in natural water bodies, but the local bodies would have to remove immersed idols the very next day and clean the seabed. The judges then asked the state govt and BMC to inform whether idols up to 8 feet can be immersed in artificial tanks and if it is possible to provide bigger tanks. Senior advocate Milind Sathe, for BMC, and advocate general Birendra Saraf said there will be logistical problems. Sathe informed that last year, 85,000 idols below 5 feet were immersed in artificial tanks. This year, the figure is 1.95 lakh such idols. He said provision has to be made for an additional 1.10 lakh idols. The High Court was informed that there are 3,865 idols between 5-10 feet and 3,998 above 10 feet. Saraf urged that in view of the festival beginning on August 27, the High Court permits the immersion of idols above 5 feet in natural water bodies. The judges said while the policy can be said to be a step in the right direction, the court has to make an endeavour that the impact of the immersion of idols on the environment is reduced to a bare minimum. 'We cannot lose sight of the fact that there are still 7,863 idols above 5 feet which shall be immersed in natural water bodies,' they added. Taking into account the policy, that an additional 1.10 lakh idols will have to be immersed in artificial bodies and since the festival begins on August 27, the judges deemed it 'appropriate to make the following arrangements this year.' 'We, therefore, direct that instead of idols 5 feet in height, idols which are up to 6 feet shall necessarily be immersed in artificial bodies,' they said. They directed the state govt to endeavour to implement its immersion policy 'in letter and spirit' and issue directions to local bodies. All local bodies in Maharashtra shall ensure strict adherence to the policy. They shall encourage utsav samitis/sarvajanik mandals to install smaller idols and also smaller replicas specifically for immersion purposes, while the larger idol may be reused or reinstalled the following year. The govt shall appoint an expert scientific committee to suggest methods for reuse and recycle of PoP. The committee shall also examine scientific methods for faster dissolution of PoP in an eco-friendly manner.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Bombay HC orders ‘mandatory' immersion of PoP idols up to 6 feet in artificial tanks across Maharashtra till March 2026
The Bombay High Court Thursday directed that Ganesh idols made of Plaster of Paris (PoP), and those less than 6 feet in height, will 'necessarily' and 'mandatorily' be immersed in artificial water bodies across Maharashtra. The high court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) against the immersion of PoP idols in natural water sources, along with pleas filed by associations of Ganesh idol makers challenging the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) guidelines banning the immersion of such idols in natural water bodies. A bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Sandeep V Marne noted in the order that the interim arrangement will also be applicable to Navratri celebrations, the Maghi Ganesh festival, as well as all festivals involving idol immersions, until March 2026. On Wednesday, the Maharashtra Government informed the high court about its July 21 policy guidelines for the immersion of PoP idols. Under the new policy, idols less than five feet will be mandatorily immersed in artificial water bodies. The government also said that those exceeding five feet in height may be permitted to be immersed in natural water bodies such as lakes, rivers, and the sea in case no alternate immersion facility is available. 'The policy of the state government can be said to be a step in the right direction. However, we cannot lose sight of the fact that over 7,000 PoP idols above 5 feet will be immersed in natural bodies. The court has to make an endeavour that the impact on immersion of idols on the environment is reduced to a bare minimum. We therefore direct that instead of 5 feet, idols up to 6 feet shall necessarily be immersed in artificial water bodies,' the bench said in the order. New arrangements, logistical issues After being informed that, according to the CPCB's expert committee, its guidelines were 'always advisory in nature,' the Bombay High Court on June 9 lifted the ban on the manufacture and sale of idols made of PoP. However, the court stated that the idols would not be immersed in natural bodies without obtaining permission from the HC and sought the state's policy on immersion. On Wednesday, July 23, after perusing the state's guidelines, the court asked the Maharashtra Government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) if it was possible to create artificial tanks for immersion of PoP idols up to 7 or 8 feet in height. On Thursday, Senior Advocate Milind Sathe, while representing BMC, informed the court that while 85,306 Ganesh idols of less than 5 feet were immersed in artificial tanks in the city last year, with the new state mandate, suitable arrangements for immersing all 1,95,306 (1.10 lakh in addition) such idols in artificial ponds will have to be made this year. He added that when 3,865 idols between 5 and 10 feet in height were immersed in natural water bodies last year, along with 3,998 above 10 feet made of PoP, there were logistical problems to ensure their immersion in artificial tanks. When Advocate Ronita Bhattacharya-Bector for the PIL petitioner argued that even the large PoP idols shall not be immersed in natural water bodies, CJI Aradhe orally remarked, 'We are also not satisfied, but we cannot create artificial ponds ourselves. We cannot remain uncut from realities and do the idealistic thing… We are part of society. We are conscious. This is only an interim arrangement for this year'. Maharashtra Advocate General Birendra Saraf said the government was 'committed to the environment', and would strictly enforce its guidelines. The Bombay High Court then directed the implementation of the state's guidelines in 'letter and spirit' and mandatory immersion of PoP idols less than 6 feet in height in artificial bodies. The court also directed the Maharashtra Government to form an expert scientific committee on the reuse and recycling of PoP idols, which would also examine methods of faster dissolution of PoP idols in an eco-friendly manner.
