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‘This is just a beginning’: As PCMC stays RFD work in Pimple Nilakh, green groups galvanised to continue protests

The demand of citizens is not confined to only Mula near Wakad to Sangvi but for all rivers- Mula, Mutha, Mula-Mutha, Pawana and Indrayani

Written by: Manoj Dattatrye More, Dipanita Nath

5 min readPuneMay 16, 2025 11:11 PM IST

The stay on the project has come as an encouragement for citizen groups (Archive)

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has put a stay on a 400–metre River Front Development (RFD) project in Pimple Nilakh area which falls within its jurisdiction. The PCMC has undertaken the project from Wakad bypass to Sangvi bridge.

Sanjay Kulkarni, Chief Engineer of PCMC and head of the civic environmental department, has said that the pause was temporary, to carry out redesigning work on the project, which will take about a week.

“We have asked the firm involved, B G Shirke Constructions Technology Pvt Ltd, to stop the work for now on a 400 metre stretch in Pimple Nilakh area. This is being done with the objective of redesigning the project on this stretch. At the time of execution, as per the site condition, we revise the design. As per the revised drawings, we will execute the project,” he said.

Kulkarni said the irrigation department has asked the civic body to redesign the stretch work following protests from citizens and environmentalists. Work on the remaining nine km will continue.

The RFD aims to beautify a 44 km river stretch of Mula and Mutha rivers that flow through the city. It has become a cause of protests by citizen groups who point out the threats to biodiversity and the dangers of concretisation, which include urban flooding, among others. The protests culminated in a civil society march, “Nadi Sathi Nadi Kathi” to the Dada Ghat Shamshan Bhumi in April. It is this site where the work has been stayed at present.

Citizen groups, suspecting that the RFD was motivated by commercial interests, have been knocking on almost every door and have even met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to ensure that the civic bodies concentrate on cleaning the river and following a scientific process in developing the riverfront.

On May 1, Delhi-based politician Maneka Gandhi had spoken to Shekhar Singh, the PCMC chief, and asked him to send a team with Aditya Paranjape, the Hon Wildlife Warden, to “see what is happening”. On Friday, Gandhi welcomed the news of the stay on the RFD on the 400 m stretch. “Rivers are more important than anything else and river ecology is the most important,” she said.

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The stay on the project has come as an encouragement for citizen groups. Dhananjay Shedbale, who had been a part of the group that had sat in hunger strike before the PCMC office against the RFD, said, “The latest development of ceasing the work is the result of the protest movement that has been going on for two months. Our demand is ‘clean water, clean river’ and not concretisation. We reached out to the masses and to the decision makers and went up to the Chief Minister.”

Shedbale added that “this is just a beginning”. “I am hopeful that the authorities will realize that this project, called river rejuvenation, is really a river-killing project. The focus should not be on construction but the constructive work of rejuvenation, i.e making the water clean from the origin till the confluence. Only then, will rivers flow and the river ecosystem will flourish. It will help the city and the purpose will be served,” said Shedbale.

It is evident that Pune will see more protests to drive the point about improving the river in the next few months, and not only on the PCMC side. “At present, work has been stayed only at Pimple Nilakh, which is a temporary and unpredictable response. They probably mentioned only Pimple Nilakh because, here, they have already violated an old NGT order. Citizens intend to continue the struggle until all encroachments in all riverbeds and on all riverbanks are removed,” said Shailaja Deshpande, among the most respected and vocal senior members of environment-conscious citizen groups.

Deshpande reiterated that, though ceasing of the work near Pimple Nilakh, is a positive response from authorities, it can be said to be very little and temporary. “It has taken huge efforts by citizens to consistently follow up with all government authorities, conduct awareness campaigns and hold umpteen meetings with different political leaders and ministries. Citizens have gone to Delhi and Mumbai and have banged on all possible closed doors. Our request is to remove dumping in the riverbed from Wakad to Sangvi. Both PMC and PCMC must consider citizens’ demands and modify their existing unscientific and damaging design,” added Deshpande.

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The demand of citizens is not confined to only Mula near Wakad to Sangvi but for all rivers- Mula, Mutha, Mula-Mutha, Pawana and Indrayani. “Citizen groups are against the way the project is being implemented. We want the conditions of the rivers to be improved. Reviving river projects is required but not the way they are being implemented currently,” added Deshpande.

Manoj Dattatrye More

Manoj Dattatrye More is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, having been with the publication since 1992. Based in Pune, he is a veteran journalist with a 33-year career that spans editorial desk work, investigative reporting, and political analysis. Professional Legacy Experience: He spent his first 16 years on the editorial desk before moving into active field reporting. He has written over 20,000 stories, including more than 10,000 bylined articles. Impact Journalism: He is widely respected for "campaign-style" reporting that leads to tangible social change. Road Safety: His decade-long campaign regarding the dangerous state of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Khadki resulted in a ₹23 crore reconstruction project in 2006, which dramatically reduced fatalities. Environmental Protection: His reports against tree cutting on the Pune-Mumbai and Pune-Nashik highways saved approximately 2,000 trees. Anti-Corruption: During the COVID-19 pandemic, he exposed a scam where doctors were being asked to pay bribes for government jobs, resulting in them being hired without payment. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Manoj More's recent work focuses heavily on the shifting political landscape of Maharashtra and civic governance in the Pimpri-Chinchwad area: 1. Political Shifts & Alliances "Ajit Pawar's NCP continues domination in Pune, wins 10 of 17 local bodies" (Dec 21, 2025): A major report on the local self-government election results, detailing the NCP’s stronghold in Baramati, Indapur, and Lonavala. "BJP ropes in 13 ex-corporators, deals major blow to NCP" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on a significant political defection in Pimpri-Chinchwad as the BJP gears up for civic polls. "Congress opts for solo BMC run as alliance talks with Sena (UBT) collapse" (Dec 17, 2025): Covering the breakdown of Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) talks for the Mumbai civic elections. "NCP(SP)'s Rahul Kalate, Sena (UBT) leader Sanjog Waghere set to join BJP" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing high-profile party-hopping ahead of the municipal elections. 2. Civic & Administrative Accountability "PCMC draws ire for issuing tenders worth Rs 250 crore just before poll code" (Dec 17, 2025): An investigative piece on the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s last-minute spending spree before election restrictions. "93 killed in 76 accidents in five years: Bypass service roads in Pune remain undeveloped for 18 yrs" (Nov 16, 2025): A critical look at the long-delayed infrastructure projects contributing to fatalities on Pune’s bypass roads. 3. Social & Labor Issues "As state says TCS has laid off 376 employees: FITE flags figures, say nearly 2,500 were forced to quit" (Dec 11, 2025): Investigating conflicting reports regarding IT sector layoffs in Maharashtra. "Maharashtra govt move to 'downgrade' Aadhaar cards" (Nov 30, 2025): Reporting on the state’s decision to require additional documents alongside Aadhaar to combat identity misuse. Signature Beat Manoj More is the definitive voice on Pimpri-Chinchwad, an industrial hub he has covered for three decades. His reporting is characterized by its aggressive stance against local "gondaism" (thuggery) and a relentless focus on civic infrastructure—choked drains, garbage management, and public transport. X (Twitter): @manojmore91982 ... Read More

Dipanita Nath

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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