NGT appoints committee to study impact of Pune Metro on Mutha river bed

The NGT bench has ordered that the committee should include experts from the fields of hydrology, ecology, bio-diversity and water pollution. (Representational image)

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday decided to constitute a committee of environment experts to study the impact of the proposed 1.7-km elevated rail route of Pune Metro rail on the Mutha river bed. The NGT’s move comes after a prohibitory injunction was sought against the construction of the Metro route and a proposed road in an area that falls within the Blue Line of Mutha river. The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) will be the convenor of the committee.

On a plea by activist Sarang Yadwadkar, the western zone NGT bench stated, “Before taking a final view, we have to clearly answer certain material questions that figure in our mind and the answers to these questions can only be given after site-specific investigations, which, in our opinion, can’t be conducted by us or before us.” In his plea to the NGT, the applicant had pointed out that the construction of the Metro route and the 100-feet proposed road “in the no-development zone, is bound to cause tremendous environmental and ecological damage in terms of adverse impact on free flow of river, unprecedented flooding, water and air pollution and irreversible damage to bio-diversity in the river bed, with invitation to unforeseen disaster resulting in incalculable loss of lives and property”.

The NGT bench has ordered that the committee should include experts from the fields of hydrology, ecology, bio-diversity and water pollution. It also directed NEERI, the Maharashtra State Bio-Diversity Board, and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board to nominate senior scientists for the committee.

The Tribunal ordered the ‘scientific investigation’ to be completed within a month, and the committee to submit its report to the NGT by the next hearing on November 14. “The committee would assess the impact of the construction on the environment, ground water recharge, bio-diversity in the river bed, free flow of water, risk of flooding, debris disposal, water pollution, air pollution and the mitigating factors involved in it,” said the order.

The MPCB will provide logistical support to the expert committee, while the cost of the scientific investigation would be borne equally by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRCL), with an initial deposit of Rs 2.5 lakh each with the MPCB in a week.

The PMC has also been directed to furnish the copies of its Development Plan, while the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and MMRCL have been directed to submit a project report, along with the environment assessment report, to the committee.

Responding to the NGT order, Brijesh Dixit, MD of Maha Metro, said, “We honour the judgment of the honourable NGT and we will take necessary action, as is required. Our only objective is to complete the project on time… and the same is not affected by this order…”.