#Pune #PuneEnvironment #Riverfront #TreeCutting #WaterCrisis #ghostcity #khadakwasla

Pune’s iconic Taljai Hill is facing a severe waste management and fire crisis, with large areas of the protected green space heavily littered with plastic waste, food packaging, newspaper bundles, and discarded boxes. Regular visitors and environmental experts have raised serious alarms over the presence of cigarette packets and lighters scattered among dry vegetation. Experts warn that a single spark from an unattended lighter or a burning cigarette butt could trigger a massive, uncontrollable fire, causing extensive damage to the local ecosystem and the hill's diverse flora and fauna. This distressing ground reality stands in stark contrast to the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) highly publicized 'Harit Pune, Samruddh Pune' initiative, which recently set an ambitious budget target to plant 50 lakh trees across the city. Residents argue that while the civic body frequently promotes tree plantation drives, maintaining existing green spaces and ensuring daily cleanliness is heavily neglected. Following these growing concerns, PMC Leader of the House Ganesh Bidkar has assured citizens that authorities will inspect the area and take appropriate action to resolve the issue before the situation worsens. #Punetimesmirror #SaveTaljaiHill #PuneEnvironment #PMC #CleanPune

More than 70 residents environmentalists and nature enthusiasts gathered at the Botanical Survey of India BSI campus in Mundhwa on Sunday June 7 to conduct an independent survey and formally oppose a proposal to fell over 1000 trees for a 30 metre Development Plan road planned along the riverbank through the 44 acre botanical estate. According to a PMC tree felling docket the proposal involves felling 1044 trees and transplanting 444 others affecting a total of 1488 trees to make way for the riverside DP road project. Environmentalists strongly contested the inclusion of compensatory plantation as a justification arguing that mature trees some decades old cannot be replaced by saplings and that the ecological value of a space housing more than 400 plant species including several native to Maharashtra would be permanently and irreversibly destroyed. Activists also alleged that the Tree Officer failed to exercise powers under Section 19a of the Maharashtra Urban Areas Protection and Preservation of Trees Act 1975 and pointed out that an Expert Committee of the PMC Tree Authority had itself recommended exploring a flyover design to avoid fragmenting the property and conserving its biodiversity. The controversy is further complicated by a deeply troubled land ownership history involving the BSI campus which sits on land originally classified as Mahar Watan before being leased to the Botanical Survey of India until 2038. A scandalous attempt to sell approximately 40 acres of this government land to a private firm called Amadea Enterprises LLP for an IT park in 2025 was ultimately cancelled and criminal cases against those involved continue while the Maharashtra Revenue Authority upheld a demand of nearly Rs 21 crore in stamp duty and penalty on the firm in April 2026. Participants at Sunday's gathering also cited data from the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute warning of rising rainfall intensity and flood risks in Pune in coming decades arguing that destroying riparian tree cover near river systems would worsen urban flooding and the heat island effect. Citizens demanded a detailed environmental impact assessment public disclosure of all project alternatives protection of heritage trees examination of expert recommendations and clarity on the land's legal status pledging to continue filing objections and monitoring the situation as they view the Mundhwa BSI campus as one of Pune's last remaining urban biodiversity zones whose fate will shape the city's environmental future for generations. #saudaghar #MundhwaBSI #BotanicalSurveyOfIndia #PuneNews #SaveTrees #PuneEnvironment #TreeFellingPune #DPRoad #PMC #PuneMunicipalCorporation #GreenPune #SaveOurTrees #EnvironmentIndia

The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority PMRDA has informed the National Green Tribunal NGT that it has prepared a detailed project report for the installation of 14 sewage treatment plants across 15 natural drains that are currently discharging raw sewage directly into the Pavana River. The proposed STPs will together have a treatment capacity of 6.94 million litres per day and the authority has already made a budgetary provision of Rs 40 crore for the project. The river rejuvenation committee has submitted a timeline to the NGT targeting completion and commissioning of all 14 STPs by December 31 2029 subject to the necessary administrative technical and financial approvals from state and central governments. The plants are planned across villages including Urse Prandvadi Shirgaon Gahunje Somatane Shivane Bebad Ohol Dhamane Godumbare Salumbare and Sangvade in Maval taluka. Alongside the long term infrastructure plan PMRDA has also proposed a set of immediate short term interventions to stop sewage from reaching the Pavana River while the larger construction work gets underway. These measures include installation of decorative steel wire mesh fencing removal of invasive water hyacinth from the river surface deployment of floating aerators to improve oxygen levels and public awareness and education programmes for communities living along the riverbank. The authority has committed to completing all short term works within 12 months of issuing the work order signalling a dual track approach that addresses both the urgent ground level pollution and the deeper structural problem of inadequate sewage treatment infrastructure in the Pavana basin. The PMRDA's submission before the NGT comes as pressure mounts on civic and planning bodies across Maharashtra to take concrete and time bound action to reverse the deteriorating condition of the region's rivers. #saudaghar #PavanaRiver #PMRDA #NGT #PuneNews #SewageTreatmentPlant #RiverRejuvenation #MaharashtraEnvironment #PuneEnvironment #NationalGreenTribunal #WaterPollutionIndia

"Listen to complete conversation by Rekha Joshi Maushi and understand the various steps and efforts citizens have undertaken so far regarding the RFD project." 🎙️📢 #SavePuneHills 🌳 #NoToRFD 🚫 #CitizensForPune ✊ #ProtectOurHills ⛰️ #PuneEnvironment 🌿 #PublicParticipation 🗣️ youtu.be/6TZB5ulfppI?si=V0b4…

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is facing intense backlash from activists and residents who allege that untreated sewage is being allowed to contaminate the ecologically sensitive Pashan Lake. The controversy centers on a 1 million litres per day (MLD) sewage treatment plant (STP) commissioned last year, which critics describe as a product of "faulty planning." Legal experts and local residents claim the plant’s capacity was grossly underestimated for the rapidly growing area, alleging that PMC is using flow meters to divert excess, untreated waste directly into the lake, a claim the civic body has officially rejected. While PMC officials maintain that the 1 MLD plant is functioning as designed and blame upstream inflows from Bhugaon and Bhukum (which fall outside city limits), residents point to the thick carpet of water hyacinth as undeniable proof of nutrient-rich sewage contamination. An execution plea has already been filed against the PMC, PMRDA, and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), seeking environmental compensation for the degradation of the lake. Activists argue that without a comprehensive scientific study on current sewage generation, the lake will continue to serve as a "cesspool," undoing years of conservation efforts. #saudaghar #PashanLake #PMC #SavePashanLake #PuneEnvironment #SewageTreatment #PuneNews #WaterPollution #PMRDA #MPCB #EcoCrisis

PMC's tree transplantation efforts may achieve some success in replanting individual trees. However, mature trees support complex local ecosystems — including birds, insects, pollinators, and soil life — that are often disrupted or lost even when transplantation succeeds. Result: Net loss of established green cover, contributing to a gradual shift from green to gray in urban Pune. #SavePuneTrees #StopRFD #PuneRiverfrontDevelopment #SavePuneRivers #GreenToGray #SaveTrees #TreeTransplantation #UrbanGreenery #ClimateAction #GoGreen #EnvironmentIndia #PuneEnvironment #SaveOurEcosystem #GreenPune #EcoPune #BiodiversityMatters #SustainablePune #PuneNews

Is Pune losing its 'Green City' tag forever? PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram has issued a stark warning: at the current rate of urbanization, Pune could lose every inch of its natural green space in the next 30 years. With 30% of our permeable land already gone, the city is turning into a concrete heat island. Experts are calling for an immediate shift from "symbolic" tree plantation to real forest and river preservation. It’s time to choose do we want a city of buildings or a city that breathes? #SavePuneGreenery #PuneEnvironment #ClimateAction #UrbanPlanning #PuneNews

Pune could lose all its green spaces within the next 30 years if urgent steps are not taken, environmentalist Naval Kishore Ram has warned. Rapid urbanisation, construction, and shrinking open land are putting the city’s gardens, hills, and natural areas under serious threat. Ram highlighted that unchecked development, illegal encroachments, and weak protection policies are reducing Pune’s green cover year after year. Experts say losing these spaces will impact air quality, temperature levels, biodiversity, and overall quality of life for residents. He has called for strict planning policies, protection of hills and open spaces, and active public participation to save the city’s environmental future. #PuneEnvironment #SavePune #GreenPune #Urbanisation #Punetimesmirror

Days after a massive fire broke out in heaps of garbage dumped along the Mula-Mutha River at Loni Kalbhor, triggering severe air pollution and hospitalising students, MIT ADT University has issued a stern warning to authorities. The university’s pro-chancellor stated that if illegal dumping does not stop within a month, the institution will physically block garbage trucks entering the area. He alleged that more than 35 trucks dump unsegregated waste daily near the riverbed, despite repeated appeals and existing regulations by environmental authorities. The recent blaze released toxic fumes that engulfed the campus, causing respiratory distress, eye irritation and throat problems among students and staff. The fire, which began on February 26, took several days to contain and severely affected visibility on the Pune–Solapur highway, disrupting traffic and forcing the university to declare a holiday. Five students were hospitalised as a precaution after inhaling toxic smoke, while nearly 20,000 students and staff residing on campus were exposed to health risks. University officials have escalated the issue to multiple state and central authorities, demanding immediate intervention, allocation of land for a solid waste management facility, and a complete halt to riverbed dumping. Environmental experts and local representatives have warned that continued dumping and burning pose serious risks to public health, nearby fuel installations, and the river’s ecological system, increasing pressure on authorities to act before the situation worsens. #SaudaGhar #SaudaGharscoop #MulaMuthaRiver #MITADTUniversity #PuneEnvironment #GarbageDumping #RiverPollution

Under the GreenAlert initiative, PuneTimesMirror has highlighted a serious environmental concern in Pimpri-Chinchwad, where large numbers of trees are at risk due to cement being laid around their roots. According to reports, nearly 32 lakh trees across the twin cities could be affected as concrete sealing prevents water and air from reaching the roots. Environmentalists and citizens have raised concerns that beautification and road development projects are suffocating trees, leading to drying, damage and in some cases death. Many saplings have also failed to survive due to lack of proper soil space, watering and protection. Activists have demanded urgent action from civic authorities, including removal of concrete around tree bases, regular monitoring and accountability for negligence. The issue has triggered fresh debate over whether urban development is coming at the cost of the city’s green cover. Under GreenAlert, PuneTimesMirror will continue to track environmental threats and push for action to protect the city’s greenery. #PuneTimesMirror #ptmGreenAlert #SaveTrees #PuneEnvironment #CityWatch

PMC Fines Builder Rs 10 Lakh, Seals Site for Dumping Debris into Mutha River Illegal dumping into Pune’s Mutha riverbed won’t be tolerated. PMC has fined Akansha Developers ₹10 lakh, sealed the site, and launched criminal action after construction debris from a Shivajinagar project was dumped near Tilak Bridge. Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram says it’s a zero-tolerance policy now — vehicles will be seized, licences cancelled, and repeat offenders blacklisted. The river is not a dumping ground. Pune deserves better. #PuneNews #MuthaRiver #PMCAction #IllegalDumping #Shivajinagar #PuneEnvironment #RiverProtection #PunekarNews #CivicAction

Pune’s green cover claims are facing serious scrutiny as independent researchers challenge PMC’s tree census data 🌱. Experts say satellite analysis and machine learning show a clear decline in tree and grassland cover, contradicting official figures shared by the civic body. The study highlights how redevelopment and infrastructure expansion are quietly erasing older, taller trees that once defined Pune’s landscape 🌍. Experts are now calling for transparent data validation, public participation, and the use of modern technology like drones to protect the city’s environmental future. #SaudaGhar #SaudaGharcarousel #PMC #PuneMunicipalCorporation #PuneEnvironment #GreenPune #UrbanGreenCover #TreeCover #ClimateChange

Large stretches of the Indrayani river near Alandi have been covered with thick white toxic foam for several weeks, with dead fish floating along the banks 🐟. Residents say the river water has turned blackish, emitting a foul smell, pointing to long-term chemical and sewage pollution entering the river from upstream urban areas. Environmental activists warn that the visible foam itself indicates severe chemical contamination, while fish deaths signal a serious ecological emergency ⚠️. Locals allege that untreated sewage, industrial effluents, and chemical waste have been flowing into the river for years, with action only taken when public outrage peaks. The Indrayani river is not just an ecological asset but a major pilgrimage route, especially during the wari, raising health concerns for devotees and nearby villagers 🙏. Despite earlier announcements of a river rejuvenation project, residents say ground-level conditions remain unchanged, deepening distrust in enforcement agencies. Pollution control officials have collected fresh water samples, while locals insist that only strict enforcement and sustained action can save the river 🌊. #SaudaGhar #IndrayaniRiver #Alandi #RiverPollution #ToxicFoam #DeadFish #PuneEnvironment #WaterPollution #RiverRejuvenation #EnvironmentalCrisis #MaharashtraRivers #PilgrimageRoute #EcoAlert

NGT (Apr 2024) disposed of petition against PMC's Hanuman Tekdi water tanks, finding no violations after #MoEFCC clearance. Yet ~140 mature trees were set to be felled for artificial tanks—overlooking how these trees & the tekdi act as Pune's natural underground 'water tanks' via #GroundwaterRecharge. #SaveHanumanTekdi #PuneEnvironment #TreeConservation #SaveOurTekdis

Serious allegations have been made against Maval MLA Sunil Shelke and his family over unauthorised excavation and the felling of thousands of trees on land reserved for afforestation in Nanoli, Maval. Local entrepreneur Ranjit Kakade has called for a thorough investigation and legal action, raising questions about environmental compliance, political accountability and administrative response in the region. #MavalNews #SunilShelke #IllegalExcavation #TreeCutting #PuneEnvironment #Afforestation #NCP illegal excavation Maval, tree cutting allegations, Sunil Shelke controversy, Maval land controversy, afforestation reserve excavation

This video highlights a growing issue that SaudaGhar has been documenting across Pune. Air pollution in the city is rising and the AQI is slipping week after week. Dust from construction sites. Dust from RMC plants. And as you can see in this clip, roadside waste and dry leaves being burned in the open. All of these sources are adding heavy particulate matter to the air. The real question is when the city administration will take this seriously. Pune is expanding fast but the air quality is moving in the opposite direction. If these practices are not controlled now, the city will slowly drift toward the kind of pollution levels we see in Delhi. This video is a reminder that the situation needs urgent action on the ground. Cleaner air is not optional. It is essential for a growing urban city like Pune. #SaudaGhar #saudaghar #saudagharscoop #realestate #realestatenews #pune #punekars #punenews #PuneAirPollution #PuneAQI #PuneEnvironment #PuneCityIssues #PuneRealEstateInsights #PuneAirQuality #PunePollutionCrisis #PuneDustPollution #PuneWasteBurning #PuneConstructionDust #PuneCityUpdates #PuneUrbanGrowth #PuneHealthImpact

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has begun the tendering process for the Indrayani River rejuvenation project, a long pending step to control river pollution in Pune. The new tender worth four hundred and forty three crore rupees covers major works such as two new sewage treatment plants, drain diversion, desilting, and plantation. This update is important for anyone tracking Pune water quality, river pollution control, and the impact of untreated sewage on the Indrayani River. The project follows administrative approval for a larger five hundred and twenty six crore plan and includes detailed proposals under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme, which plays a key role in urban water management across India. Officials confirmed that more than forty STPs are also planned across villages along the Indrayani by PMRDA, which shows the scale of pollution challenges and the effort needed to restore the river. The frequent appearance of toxic white foam, especially near Alandi and Dehu, has raised concerns among citizens and experts who want proper routing of sewage and minimal concretisation along the riverfront. This news matters for Pune residents because long term river rejuvenation can improve groundwater quality, reduce ecological damage, and support healthier urban development. The next month will be crucial as PCMC completes the tendering process and moves toward issuing work orders. #saudaghar #saudagharscoop #realestate #realestatenews #pune #punekars #punenews #punenews #saudagharnews #IndrayaniRiver #IndrayaniRiverRejuvenation #PCMC #PCMCNews #PuneNews #PuneDevelopment #PuneWaterPollution #RiverPollution #AMRUT2 #PuneEnvironment #STPPune #IndrayaniFoam #Alandi #Dehu #PuneCivicUpdate #PuneUrbanDevelopment #PuneInfrastructure

Strict dust control is needed at every construction site with misting machines regular sprinkling proper green nets covered debris and mandatory wheel washing. Authorities like MPCB PMC and PCMC must conduct weekly inspections and impose heavy penalties on any developer who breaks environmental rules. Garbage must be collected daily and roadside waste dumping must stop completely to prevent toxic air. Large scale tree plantation and protection of green spaces across Pune is essential to bring back clean air and reduce heat and dust. Citizens should also report violations through official helplines so that action can be taken quickly. Responsible development is the only way forward. Pune cannot afford to repeat the mistakes that pushed Delhi into toxic smog. This video is a reminder that the future of our city depends on the choices we make today. Pune’s air is getting worse every single day. The latest drone footage shows how fast our city is losing clean air, greenery and long-distance visibility. Old footage from 2019 to 2020 shows a fresh and green skyline where you could see up to 15 km ahead. In today’s footage you can barely see 5 or 6 km because a thick layer of dust and pollution has taken over the sky. Across Pune many construction sites are openly ignoring NGT and MPCB guidelines. Dust suppression is missing. Soil is left uncovered. Trucks move without covers. There are no green nets or barricades and no proper wheel washing. At the same time roadside garbage is not being picked up quickly and waste dumping continues in several areas. Authorities are also not taking proactive action even though the situation is clearly getting worse. Because of this uncontrolled pollution Pune’s AQI is rising week after week and the day is not far when Pune will start looking like Delhi during the winter smog season. This is a warning for the whole city. #saudaghar #saudagharscoop #realestate #realestatenews #pune #punekars #punenews #punenews #saudagharnews #PuneAirPollution #PuneAQI #PuneEnvironment #WagholiAirQuality #PuneDroneFootage #PuneRealEstateUpdate #PuneCityIssues #ConstructionPollution #NGTRules #MPCB #PuneGreeneryLoss #PuneSmog #PuneDevelopment

The demolition of illegal structures near the Khadakwasla, Panshet, Pavana and Kasarsai dams is an important development for Pune, as these dam catchment areas supply drinking water and irrigation water to the city. The action taken by the Water Resources Department shows how water security and environmental protection have become urgent priorities for Pune. The demolition work has been continuing for a week, and every update highlights the scale of encroachments around key reservoirs. This operation was carried out after years of public complaints about encroachments near dam catchment zones, where resorts and commercial structures had come up on government land. These structures were seen as a threat to water quality and long term water safety for Pune. Heavy machinery from the Pune Municipal Corporation and strong police presence ensured that the demolition process continued despite pressure tactics and legal hurdles from encroachers. This development is now a major point of discussion across Pune because it directly impacts real estate, land use and environmental policy. #saudaghar #saudagharscoop #realestate #realestatenews #pune #punekars #punenews #punenews #saudagharnews #PuneNews #Pune #PuneNews #PuneUpdate #Khadakwasla #Panshet #Pavana #Kasarsai #PuneWaterSupply #PuneEnvironment #PuneDemolition #IllegalConstruction #PuneRealEstate #MaharashtraNews #WaterResourcesDepartment #PuneIrrigation #PuneBreakingNews #PuneWaterSecurity #CatchmentAreaProtection #PuneMunicipalCorporation #PuneDevelopment