10 months ago
Pune Civic Body Abandons HCMTR Project, Activists Demand DP Deletion
Imagine Pune wants to build a big new road called HCMTR to help with traffic.
This road was planned to be long and go over some hills that are special because they have forests and are important for nature.
Some people who love nature said building this road would hurt the special hills.
So, they went to the highest court, the Supreme Court.
The court was told that the city's leaders have decided to stop building the HCMTR road.
The nature lovers are happy about this but want to make sure the city officially removes the road plan from its future building plans.
They are also worried about other roads and tunnels planned near the same hills and want to make sure their impact on nature is carefully studied before any building starts.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has abandoned the 35-km High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) project.
Parts of the proposed HCMTR were planned through an ecologically sensitive zone on Vetal Tekdi.
Environmental activists are seeking the deletion of the HCMTR from the city's Development Plan.
The Supreme Court mandated a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment for the Balbharti Road project, also impacting Vetal Tekdi.
Activists express concern over PMC's communication regarding the Balbharti Road construction before the environmental clearance process has started.
- Who
- Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), environmental activists Dr. Sushma Date and Dr. Sumita Kale, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta
- What
- PMC has abandoned the High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR) project, with activists urging its removal from the Development Plan and emphasizing the need for an Environmental Impact Assessment for other related projects.
- Where
- Pune, India, specifically concerning the Vetal Tekdi area and Law College Hill
- When
- October 29 (hearing before CJI's bench), earlier this month (PMC claimed stay lifted on Balbharati Road)
- Why
- The HCMTR project, partially aligned through an ecologically sensitive area, has been 'abandoned' by the PMC. Activists are pushing for its formal deletion from the Development Plan and have raised concerns about other projects impacting the Vetal Tekdi.
Environmental Activists
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)
HCMTR Project Status
Environmental Activists
Advocating for the formal deletion of the 'abandoned' HCMTR project from the Development Plan, labeling it 'ill-planned and destructive'.
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)
Has officially stated in court that the HCMTR project has been 'abandoned'.
Balbharti Road and Environmental Clearance
Environmental Activists
Insist on a full, four-season Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Clearance (EC) for the Balbharti Road, viewing PMC's assurances of quick EC as a formality and a disregard for constitutional mandate.
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)
Asserted that EC was not needed for Balbharti Road, though later Supreme Court orders mandated a fresh EIA and EC; the Municipal Commissioner emphasized the urgency of starting work and obtaining EC.
Protection of Vetal Tekdi
Environmental Activists
Striving to protect Vetal Tekdi as Pune's natural heritage, highlighting its ecological importance, especially the Law College slope, and protecting green spaces and aquifers.
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)
The PMC has undertaken plantation drives related to road projects and focuses on infrastructure development to solve traffic issues, implying that ecological concerns are being addressed through such measures.
Key facts
- Project Name
- High Capacity Mass Transit Route (HCMTR)
- Length
- 35 km
- Original Conception
- 1987 Development Plan
- Estimated Cost (2017)
- Rs 5,000 - Rs 8,000 crore
- Key Area Affected
- Vetal Tekdi ecologically sensitive zone
Quotes
Dr. Sushma Date
An activist fighting to protect Vetal Tekdi
“This is even before the Environment Impact Assessment process has started, thus implying that the environment clearance is just a formality. We would like to remind PMC of its constitutional mandate … to safeguard our forests, green space and aquifers recharge zones. Though we had to go to the highest court in the land, we did and will continue to do what it takes to protect and preserve Vetal Tekdi as Pune’s natural heritage for future generations of Punekars.”
indianexpress.com
“Two km of the 35 km HCMTR are aligned over the proposed Balbharti Road through Law College Hill in an ecologically sensitive urban forest. HCMTR is one of the three destructive projects planned on Vetal Tekdi, the other two being Balbharti road and the two tunnels.”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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