Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Medha Kulkarni recently led a site visit at Ram-Mula Sangam, a critical part of the 44-kilometer Riverfront Development project in Pune. The visit, aimed at raising concerns regarding the ongoing work, was attended by Pune Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale, municipal officers, Shailaja Deshpande from the Pune River Reversal Society, Jeevitnadi Sanstha, and numerous local citizens.

The Riverfront Development project, which is being funded by the central and state governments, is estimated to require Rs. 4,700 crore for the completion of the 44-kilometer stretch. Although the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been completed, Dr. Kulkarni highlighted several discrepancies in the report and the progress of the work. Notably, during work at Bundgarden, the riverbed has been reduced by filling in the river, and 200-year-old trees are being cut down, as stated in a press release issued by Dr. Kulkarni's office. She has already filed a complaint with Union Minister C.R. Patil regarding these issues.

In stretches where work has not yet commenced, trees have been numbered following a survey. Dr. Kulkarni emphasized the need to halt work in areas where the DPR is still being finalized, especially in regions where the river is being filled. Jeevitnadi Sanstha has been actively following up on these concerns.

During the site visit, it was revealed that the filling of the Ram River at Ram-Mula Sangam Aundh and the dumping of 300 truckloads of construction debris into the Mula riverbed were taking place.

“We insist that the riverbed should remain wide and intact, and trees should not be cut down,” Dr. Medha Kulkarni said. She added that a meeting would soon be arranged with Divisional Commissioner Dr. Mahesh Pulkundwar, along with the commissioners of PMC and PCMC, and various environmental organizations. In the meantime, the ongoing work has been temporarily halted.

Dr. Kulkarni also raised concerns about the filling of the riverbed, which reduces its capacity and could create obstacles that might lead to flooding during the monsoon season. This, she noted, would result in water entering residential areas and disrupting the quality of life. She stressed that the river should maintain its natural beauty and warned that actions like filling, tree cutting, and the destruction of bird habitats will not be tolerated.

The site visit was attended by several key officials, including PMC Commissioner and Administrator Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, Head of the Environment Department Sanjay Shinde, Environment Officer Mangesh Dighe, Executive Engineer Bipin Shinde, Deputy Engineer Mukund Shinde, and other representatives. Environmentalists such as Shailaja Deshpande, Prajakta Mahajan, Mukund Malvankar, Adv. Amey Jagtap, and other members of Jeevitnadi Sanstha were also present at the inspection.