Pune civic body told to look into objections to riverfront devpt works on defence land

Pune: The Defence Estates Office (DEO) in Pune has asked the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to look into the grievance of activist Prajakta Mahajan, who has objected to the River Front Development (RFD) works on 17 acres of defence land allocated to PMC in Yerawada.
Mahajan recently wrote to the defence ministry highlighting issues such as destroying the natural buffer, natural ecosystem, riparian zone, ecological balance, reduced groundwater recharge, increased urban heat, loss of biodiversity and heightened flood risks due to RFD works. She urged the ministry to reconsider the decision to allocate defence land for the project.
"Construction of promenades, jogging tracks and embankments under the guise of riverfront development is, in reality, an encroachment on the river's natural floodplain. Such interventions significantly disrupt the delicate biodiversity of the riparian zone which serves as a critical habitat for various flora and fauna. Destruction of this natural buffer will have far-reaching adverse effects on the ecological balance," she said in her letter to the PMO and ministry of defence MoD.
"This project does not qualify as an essential service. It appears to be an unnecessary use of public funds, particularly when there are more pressing civic and environmental concerns in the city," she told TOI.
The MoD informed the DEO of the same and sought an urgent response. "In view of the above, it is requested to look into the grievance and submit a suitable reply along with supportive documents and alternative measures, if any, to this office immediately for further submission to our higher HQ," said Vidyadhar Pawar, defence estates officer, Pune Circle, in the letter.
"We plan to utilise most of the defence land for afforestation purposes. We will be planting native trees and growing an urban forest," said Yuvraj Deshmukh, chief engineer of PMC projects department.