Environmentalists accuse civic body of putting people's lives at risk by going for road along Mutha river below the flood line
Environmentalists accuse civic body of putting people's lives at risk by going for road along Mutha river below the flood line
After 50 years of the Panshet dam flood in the city, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is accused of inviting the same kind of trouble by making a riverside road at a level that lies below the flood line. On July 12, 1961, the Panshet dam burst and the floodwater poured into the city from the Mutha river, devastating a large swathe of nearby areas and rendering thousands homeless. 
Dangerous road? The riverside road with the flood line showing under
the Balgandharva bridge. Pic/Vivek Sabnis
The flood line was subsequently drawn, which activists say is being violated by the PMC. After the 1961 flood, the PMC demarcated the flood line levels at all the bridges and causeways on the Mutha."The carrying capacity of the Mutha is 1,50,000 cusecs, but a flood-like situation comes when the water level crosses 60,000 cusecs in monsoon," said Sarang Yadvadkar, an environmentalist.
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The riverside road is in the basin. By using stones, tar and other material ultimately leads to flood like situation, he accused. Three days ago, the district and sessions court ruled that the PMC cannot go ahead with the construction of the road along Mutha River till July 13.
Only 4.1km stretch of the 24-km road, connecting Shivaji Bridge to Kharadi, has been laid till date. Earlier, the PMC had sought permission from the court for repairs and extension works on the road. Vijay Paranjape of Gomuth NGO who protested against construction of the riverside road, said, "The PMC has no right to lay the road along the riverbed as the land is under the jurisdiction of state irrigation department.
A road in the river basin itself is an encroachment. It reduces the carriage capacity of the river. It will create flood like situation. Instead of cleaning the river water, the PMC is spending money on roads and other superficial beautification of the area."
On July 12, 1961, the city was washed out by the breach in the first mud-built dam at Panshet. It was one of the most appalling deluges in the history of Pune and had affected around one lakh people. Besides, the deluge had destroyed property worth Rs 17.5 crore. Economist Sulabha Brahme and ecologist Prakash Gole had submitted a report on "Deluge in Poona".
The Other Side
Naresh Zurmure, Chief Garden Superintendent, PMC, said as per the development plan, the decision to
lay the road had been taken long ago. He said it was legally permissible to lay the road under Section 205 of the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act, for easy flow of traffic. Shrinivas Bonala, Additional City Engineer, said, "We are following court orders. Work cannot be stopped in the name of environment, as the road is a must to ease traffic in city."
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