Tejas Navale
Pune, April 28, 2025: Amidst continuous protests by environmentalists and local citizens, Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Anna Bansode, on Sunday ordered an immediate halt to the ongoing River Rejuvenation Project (RRP), the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) flagship initiative. Bansode visited the Mula riverbank to personally meet the protestors, listened to their grievances, and directed the municipal commissioners of Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad to suspend all project activities without delay.
Earlier in the day, thousands of concerned citizens and environmental activists took out a massive foot march from Shaheed Ashok Kamthe Park in Pimple Nilakh to the riverbed near the Pimple Nilakh crematorium. Approximately three thousand people participated in this march. The march culminated in a solemn pledge ceremony where citizens vowed to protect the river from this project. At this time, a short street play highlighting the threats posed by the project to the river’s health was performed by the citizens.
For several months now, citizens have been vehemently opposing the River Rejuvenation Project, alleging that it poses a grave threat to the environment. Protesters have repeatedly flagged illegal tree cutting and the destruction of biodiversity as key concerns. They also warned that this project would narrow the riverbed, which could dangerously increase the risk of flooding in the area.
Responding to the agitation, Deputy Speaker Bansode visited the protest site yesterday and inspected the riverbed. At this time, he interacted with environmental experts and local residents and understood their grievances. After that, he immediately instructed the municipal commissioners to put a stop to the project. Bansode further assured protestors that he would personally take up the matter directly with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the next week to ensure that citizen voices are not ignored.
