This is an archive article published on August 14, 2024
Why Sarang Yadwadkar’s environment advocacy work won’t stop soon
Yadwadkar, who is in his 60s, represents the power of advocacy in questioning unplanned and illegal infrastructure and developmental initiatives of the administration
Yadwadkar, who is in his 60s, represents the power of advocacy in questioning unplanned and illegal infrastructure and developmental initiatives of the administration. (Photo: X/ @SVYadwadkar)
What would an architect, who has been educated at a prestigious college and built a promising career, do if he comes across debris dumped on the riverbank? A common response would be to look the other way — which makes Sarang Yadwadkar’s decision to fight and not blink unusual.
Yadwadkar, who is in his 60s, represents the power of advocacy in questioning unplanned and illegal infrastructure and developmental initiatives of the administration. Recently, he was among those who wrote to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) about their digging up 500 km of roads in Pune to lay data cables and demanded that the relevant documents be made available and transparent on the civic body’s website. The state of the Mula-Mutha ensures that Yadwadkar is constantly fighting cases at the National Green Tribunal or the High Court. As the nation marks its 78th year of freedom from British rule, Yadwadkar is concerned about what is coming next for the city, the country and the planet.
“I feel that there are three phases in life for everyone—Learn, Earn and Return. The phase of earning should not continue through your life. The planet that we received from our forefathers was much much better. But, what about the planet that we are handing over to our next generation,” he asks. “It is in a very bad state and we should feel guilty for that,” he adds.
A graduate from Sir JJ College of Architecture in 1980, Yadwadkar made a life change from the drawing board to fighting PILs in January 2013 after he noticed a large amount of debris dumped on the Mutha bank. A company had created a plot of around three acres as the parking for a marriage hall which was encroaching upon Mutha riverbed. “I started writing to PMC about it but nothing much was done. That’s when I filed three cases with the NGT,” he says.
He won two of the three cases and the third project was withdrawn by the project proponents, but this was just the beginning of the fight. Since then, he has taken on the establishment over encroachments on riverbeds, Riverfront Development plans, Bund Garden Mundhwa Riverbed Road and the road on Vetal Tekdi from Balbharati to Paud Phata, among others.
In 2015, he opposed the state’s decision to release water from Khadakwasla Dam for the Ganesh idols immersion, arguing that this was leading to a shortage of water to Pune city that citizens are entitled to. Thereafter PMC has started providing immersion tanks for idols. He also filed a PIL in Bombay High Court against the Water Resource Department as an executive engineer allegedly submitted unscientific and illegal flood line maps to the PMC. “Because of this unlawful and unethical act, many buildings are being constructed on flood plains in Pune causing threat to the lives of thousands of citizens. All of us have to spend a lot of time and resources to challenge and rectify the misdeeds,” he wrote. The High Court recently directed the Water Resources Department to redraw the flood lines of the rivers in Pune.
What he misses is his architecture practice. “Officially, I am still practising but I don’t really get the time. This is sad as architecture is a wonderful and creative field. But, my first duty is to stop the damage being caused to the environment by unplanned infrastructure and visionless development,” he says. As aware citizens congregated around him over the years, Yadwadkar found support in the form of crowdfunding support.
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“When a struggle begins, nobody knows how long it’s going to last. This is especially true when the opponents are the administration and the citizens who seem to be not coming out of slumber to stop the environmental and social degradation. I often wonder if we are really living in a free India because we have not achieved the quality and state of Independence that our forefathers had envisaged for us,” he says.
Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life.
Professional Background
Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint.
Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series).
Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators.
Recent Notable Articles (December 2025)
Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season:
1. Climate & Environment
"Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week.
"How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site.
"Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner.
2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage
"Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle.
"Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport.
"The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle.
3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc"
"Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema.
"Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups.
"How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor.
Signature Style
Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune.
X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More
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