Pune Developer Booked for Illegally Dumping Construction Debris in Mutha River
Pune, The Pune Municipal Corporation has registered a police case against a developer for allegedly dumping construction debris into the Mutha riverbed in Shivajinagar, officials announced on Thursday. The debris reportedly originated from a slum rehabilitation project in the Tofkhana area being executed by the developer.
The action comes after photographs and videos surfaced on social media showing rubble and soil being tipped into the flowing river near Tilak Bridge and Amruteshwar Temple. This triggered outrage among netizens, who expressed their concerns about the environmental impact and potential flooding risks.
PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram emphasized the seriousness of the offense. 'Throwing construction waste into the riverbed or any public place is a serious offence. Criminal cases have been ordered against those responsible. Besides registering an offence with the police against the project, a stop work notice has been issued to the project, and a fine of ₹10 lakh has been levied,' Ram stated.
Local residents reported seeing trucks unloading soil, stones, and cement waste directly into the river channel, raising concerns about obstruction to water flow and possible flooding during the monsoon. Environmental activists highlighted that such activities undermine the city's Riverfront Development project, which aims to rejuvenate the river and its surroundings.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Pavneet Kaur said that special teams have been deployed to trace the source of the debris and identify the projects involved. 'Stop-work notices are being issued wherever violations are detected. Vehicles used for dumping will be seized, and repeat offenders will face cancellation of licenses and blacklisting,' she added.
Despite the availability of a construction and demolition waste processing facility at Wagholi, some contractors avoid using it to cut transportation costs. The civic body has decided to step up monitoring through CCTV surveillance and periodic inspections, while fixing accountability at the level of engineers and site supervisors to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Pune Municipal Corporation's stringent measures are expected to deter other developers and contractors from engaging in illegal dumping practices, ensuring the sustainability and safety of the city's river systems.
