Remove debris from Mutha river within a month: NGT to Datar Farms

National Green Tribunal.

THE NATIONAL Green Tribunal (NGT) issued directions to the owner of Datar Farms, a private commercial establishment, on Wednesday to remove the debris allegedly dumped by their workers on the Mutha riverbed.

Hearing a contempt petition, filed by Sarang Yadwadkar, Narendra Chugh, Dilip Mohite and Sanjay Bhosale, the NGT bench of Justice U D Salvi and expert member Dr Nagin Nanda confirmed the encroachment by Datar Farms after consulting with the Irrigation Department.

Yadwakar said, "The Irrigation Department confirmed that Datar Farms has encroached upon Mutha river by dumping debris, which have reduced the carrying capacity of the river by 14 per cent. It also expressed the need for its removal."

He pointed out that as per the NGT order, the removal of debris would require about 12,000 trucks and should be done within a month, under the supervision of the Irrigation Department. The tribunal has also sought a report on the same by December 4.

The NGT had earlier ordered the Pune Municipal Corporation to stop the construction of the road along the Mula-Mutha river that threatens to choke it.