Pune Municipal Corporation directed to remove all debris from the Mutha riverbed

National Green Tribunal (NGT): Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been directed by NGT to expeditiously remove all the debris dumped including embankments constructed at the bank of river Mutha in Vitthalwadi. This order of the Tribunal came upon a petition filed by a local environmentalist who sought implementation of directions passed by NGT in an earlier petition filed in the same matter. Earlier, the petitioner had filed a petition before NGT alleging that the construction work of a road along the Mutha River inside the blue line is not allowed and debris had been dumped within the blue line. While disposing of the petition on July 11, 2013, the tribunal had directed the civic body to remove all debris from the blue line and also to construct the road on elevated pillars in the area that falls within the blue line. When the directions of the said order were not implemented, the petitioner approached NGT contending that as the earlier order had not been challenged and hence attained finality, implementation must be done. The Tribunal asked Pune Municipal Corporation to start removal of debris from Mutha riverbed within 15 days and complete the process within three months. It further said that Chief Engineer PWD (Public Works Department) of the state would carry out the work of removal of debris and the embankment if PMC fails to follow the earlier judgment. “Cost and expenses incurred shall be recovered from the respondent no. 1- Pune Municipal Corporation and shall be defrayed from their account accordingly,” added NGT. (Sarang Yadwakar v. Pune Municipal Corporation, 2015 SCC OnLine NGT 2, decided on January 14, 2015)