In a significant setback for the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) has denied permission for the proposed river rejuvenation project aimed at cleansing the Pavana, Mula, and Indrayani rivers. The civic body, seeking environmental clearance, now faces the task of resubmitting the proposal after obtaining approval from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS).
Under the directives of the state government, PCMC had embarked on an ambitious initiative last year to make the three rivers within its jurisdiction pollution-free. However, the SEIAA’s refusal to grant permission has added a layer of complexity to the process.
Sanjay Kulkarni, Joint City Engineer and head of PCMC’s environment department, revealed that a comprehensive hydraulic and hydrology study of the rivers had been conducted by CWPRS during the initial assessment. “Despite the thorough evaluation of the project and rivers, the SEIAA has requested a detailed report of the hydraulic and hydrology study,” Kulkarni stated.
The proposed investment in the river rejuvenation project stands at ₹3,200 crore, reflecting the scale and importance of the initiative. Following SEIAA’s directives, the PCMC is set to resubmit the application for approval, promising to address all concerns and provide additional details related to potential impacts on river flooding, parking, landscaping, water treatment methods, plantation of native trees, and artificial construction for flood control.
Once the revised proposal gains approval, the PCMC plans to issue a work order within the next two weeks, marking the commencement of the extensive river rejuvenation efforts.
