Pune News: Pimpri Chinchwad’s Indrayani River Rejuvenation Project Receives Environmental Clearance

A representative of the Project Proponent (PP) along with environmental consultant M/s. Fine Envirotech Engineers attended the meeting. The project covers a total plot area of 3,617,000 m² with a non-FSI (Non-Floor Space Index) area of 4,000 m², and a Built-Up Area (BUA) of 4,000 m².

Key Points of the Proposal:

1. The PP undertook to retain and integrate both small and large non-invasive trees, remove approximately 4,000 small invasive trees, and transplant about 3,300 non-invasive trees within the project boundary and nearby Moshi area gardens. Additionally, the PP committed to planting 26,000 native species trees within the boundary and maintaining them for five years, with quarterly compliance reports to be submitted.

2. PP will submit details regarding the construction of structures on the riverbank.

3. The PP will comply with the recommendations from the Mathematical Model Studies For Routing of Flood with Provision of Embankments Along River Indrayani, Pune, Maharashtra- Technical Report No. 6110, February 2023, as provided by the CWPRS, Pune.

4. Provision of electric vehicle charging facilities at suitable locations, in line with the Maharashtra Electric Vehicle Policy, 2021, is required.

5. The PP will ensure that drinking water is not used for construction; instead, recycled water or tanker water will be used.

Recommendations from SEAC:

The committee, after extensive discussions, recommended the project for environmental clearance, contingent upon compliance with the points mentioned above.

Deliberation in SEIAA:

The proposal was presented in the 273rd SEIAA meeting after being recommended by SEAC-3 in its 185th meeting. The SEIAA asked the PP to provide additional details on tree plantation and submit quarterly reports on tree survival, as well as adhere to the recommendations in the CWPRS report.

Furthermore, the SEIAA asked the PP to obtain an NOC from the Irrigation Department and strictly comply with the provisions outlined in the Irrigation Department Circular dated 30th May 2018.

SEIAA Decision:

After thorough deliberation, the SEIAA decided to grant environmental clearance for the Indrayani River Rejuvenation Project, with the following conditions:

1. Tree Plantation: The PP must submit detailed plans for tree plantation and provide quarterly survival reports for transplanted trees.

2. CWPRS Report Compliance: The PP must strictly comply with the recommendations of the CWPRS report.

3. NOC from Irrigation Department: The PP must obtain an NOC from the Irrigation Department and adhere to the Irrigation Department Circular of May 30, 2018.

Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landage on the approval said, “The long-awaited Indrayani River Rejuvenation Project, known as “Namami Indrayani,” has cleared a major hurdle as the Maharashtra State Government’s Environment Department has granted the project its much-anticipated No Objection Certificate (NOC). This approval paves the way for the commencement of the project, which holds significant cultural and religious importance for both the people of Pimpri Chinchwad and the entire Warkari community.

The project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been approved through collaboration between the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), the Maharashtra State Government, and the Central Government. Funding will also be sourced through AMRUT 2.0. Until now, the project was awaiting environmental clearance, which has now been successfully obtained after continuous follow-up during the legislative assembly sessions with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.”