In a significant development for Pune's infrastructure, the long-stalled Paud Phata-Balbharati Link Road project is inching forward. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has now initiated the formal process to obtain the crucial Environment Clearance (EC) certificate, a mandatory condition set by the Supreme Court for the controversial project to proceed.
Decades of Delay and Legal Hurdles
The proposed 2.1-kilometer, 30-meter-wide road, designed to bypass the congested Law College Road, has been a point of contention for decades. Its inclusion in the city's Development Plan (DP) faced fierce opposition from citizens and environmentalists concerned about the rich biodiversity of Vetal Tekdi. This public backlash led to protests and eventually a legal challenge that reached the highest court in the land.
For years, environmental and legal issues kept the project on hold. The civic body's earlier decision to move forward after DP inclusion only intensified the conflict, resulting in a court case. The turning point came two months ago when the Supreme Court granted its approval, but with a critical caveat: no construction can begin until the PMC secures the Environment Clearance certificate.
PMC's Cautious Path Forward
Acting on the court's directive, the PMC administration has decided to appoint an expert consultant agency to steer the entire EC process. "The Supreme Court has allowed us to complete the Paud Phata-Balbharati road, provided we secure the EC certificate for the project," stated a civic officer. The aim is to execute the process correctly to avoid any future legal or environmental hurdles.
The appointment of the consultant will formally take place after the ongoing Pune Municipal Corporation elections, due to the model code of conduct currently in effect. This cautious approach underscores the administration's desire to mitigate risks and ensure transparency in a project that has been under intense public scrutiny.
Comprehensive Environmental Assessment Planned
The appointed agency will have a detailed mandate. Its primary tasks will be to conduct a thorough Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and prepare an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to mitigate potential damage. This involves a multi-faceted baseline study covering all ecological aspects of the Vetal Tekdi area.
The agency's work will include:
- Reviewing all relevant court orders and public grievances.
- Collecting critical baseline data on water quality, underground aquifers, air quality, and day-night noise levels.
- Assessing soil characteristics and conducting a detailed tree count to evaluate the status of local flora and fauna.
- Carrying out a traffic study analyzing travel time and future projections.
Initially, the EIA and EMP will be prepared based on studies conducted over one season. However, the plan is to update these documents to include comprehensive environmental monitoring across all four seasons. This will provide a complete picture of the area's hydrogeology and biodiversity throughout the year, addressing a key concern of environmentalists.
Calls for Transparency and Public Trust
As the process begins, civic activists emphasize the need for openness. Vivek Velankar, a noted civic activist, urged the PMC to conduct the EC process transparently instead of keeping citizens in the dark. "If the PMC does the EC certificate process properly and transparently, then the public concerns will also get addressed," he remarked. This sentiment echoes the broader demand for accountable governance in Pune's rapid urban development.
The move to procure the EC marks a pivotal, though cautious, step for a project that symbolizes the clash between urban infrastructure needs and environmental conservation in a growing metropolis. The coming months will reveal whether the PMC can balance these competing priorities to the satisfaction of the courts, citizens, and the ecosystem of Vetal Tekdi.
