Dr. Kulkarni’s inspection highlights urgent environmental concerns in Pune
The Riverfront Development project is a big deal, with a hefty investment of ₹4,700 crore from both the central and state governments. But Dr. Kulkarni noticed some problems in the project report and how things are being carried out. For instance, the riverbed is getting narrower, and they’re cutting down trees that are over 200 years old near Bundgarden. She’s even filed a complaint about this with Union Minister C.R. Patil.
Environmentalists are sounding the alarm as recent surveys show trees in untouched areas are at risk. Dr. Kulkarni insists that construction should stop in places where the project details aren’t finalized yet, especially where they’ve started filling the river.
She also pointed out that around 300 truckloads of construction debris have been dumped into the Mula riverbed, which is a huge concern for the environment. Dr. Kulkarni stressed that the riverbed needs to stay wide and intact, and no more trees should be cut down. She warned that reducing the river’s capacity could lead to flooding.
For now, the construction work has been paused. Dr. Kulkarni plans to hold a meeting with key officials and environmental groups to tackle these pressing issues. The inspection saw the attendance of important figures like PMC Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale and environmentalist Shailaja Deshpande from Jeevitnadi Sanstha, all of whom share her concerns.