Pawana River Being Choked
Massive debris dumping at Ravet; Flood risk feared in nearby villages
Pimpri: The Pawana River, the lifeline of nearly 3.8 million citizens of Pimpri-Chinchwad, is facing yet another environmental threat. Construction debris is being dumped directly into the riverbed under the Mumbai–Bengaluru National Highway bridge at Ravet. However, the municipal administration is allegedly ignoring the issue, raising concerns that villages in the nearby rural belt may face serious flood risks during the monsoon.
Large quantities of earth and debris brought in by heavy dumpers are being dumped directly into the riverbed. The activity is ongoing on both sides of the flyover, from Punawale as well as Ravet. Nearly 40 feet of filling has reportedly been carried out in parts of the riverbed, significantly narrowing its natural width.
This issue has raised serious concerns ahead of the monsoon. During the rainy season, a large volume of water flows into the river from the surrounding catchment areas. However, the artificial filling is likely to obstruct the natural flow of water, increasing the risk of flooding. Villages such as Nere, Jambe, Sangawade and Darumbre, along with nearly ten villages may be directly affected. There are also fears of extensive damage to agricultural land along the riverbanks. In addition, water may enter residential areas, potentially disrupting the lives of hundreds of residents and causing significant losses.
However, there has been no official clarification on who is dumping the debris into the riverbed. Local residents have expressed strong anger over the issue and have questioned the role of the administration. Residents of Ravet are openly asking why the authorities are not taking action now instead of waiting for a disaster to happen. They have demanded immediate action to stop the dumping and to restore the riverbed before the monsoon to avoid potential flooding and damage in nearby villages.
“The Pawana River is being severely damaged. It is the responsibility of the municipal corporation’s environment department to protect the river. Unfortunately, the department seems to have time for other work, but not for protecting the river. I will submit a memorandum to the Municipal Commissioner, the Mayor and the Environment Department officials and demand an immediate solution. If the issue is still not resolved, I will be forced to take to the streets.”
– Rajendra Taras, President, Yuva Sena, Maval Lok Sabha
“The National Highways Authority is currently carrying out road work over the riverbed at Ravet, for which temporary filling has been done. They have informed the municipal corporation about the work. After the road work is completed, the filling material from the riverbed will be removed, and care will be taken to ensure that the natural flow of the river is not obstructed.”
– Sanjay Kulkarni, Chief Engineer, Environment Department, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation
