Pune Municipal Corporation Approves Mula-Mutha Riverfront Development Plan

In the latest move to rejuvenate the banks of the Mula Mutha River, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has approved the riverfront development project to be done on the lines of Sabarmati Riverfront Development in Ahmedabad. The general body has approved the demand for creating a special purpose vehicle and draft project report to be submitted to the state government.

The redevelopment plan for the Mula Mutha River in Pune has been shelved and revived time and again. With the change in the municipal corporation in Pune, the rejuvenation plan of the river bank has undergone several changes, including the funding cost and the channels. Earlier, the local leaders have come together to pledge support for the development of river banks of the Mutha river. The entire project is now expected to cost Rs 2,619 crore. 

What has happened so far?

As the proposal to form an SPV has been sent to the state government, once approved the river land will be transferred from the irrigation department. The SPV will be empowered for collecting the funds for the project. The funding will be raised from various sources such as loans, land allotment for commercial usage as done in Sabarmati Riverfront Development. Earlier, PMC was to execute the project with the help of Japan International Cooperation Agency for which the budget was set at Rs 1,000 crore. As the Central government approved the riverfront development of one of the most polluted rivers in India in January 2016, the appointment of the consultant was delayed due to elections. While Japan promised the funding for the project in June 2016, the work could not start as approvals were still pending.

Why the redevelopment?

The prime focus of the development was to improve water quality and stop river pollution. An objective has also been laid out to build surrounding areas as a riverfront for public use. The development plan also includes the building of community toilets in the slum areas which are built on the riverside on the low-lying region as open defecation is one of the major reasons for river pollution.

The plan

While media reports suggest that the PMC has already prepared a massive river beautification plan that has a budget of more than Rs 2,500 crore, it is the Ahmedabad-based HPC Design, Planning and Management Pvt Ltd that has designed the draft plan for the project. This plan envisages improvement of river banks on both sides of the 44-km stretch passing through the city, including 22.2 km of Mula, 10.4 km of Mutha and 11.8 km stretch of Mula-Mutha river. It also includes footpaths and walkways for walking, cycling, boating facility and setting up eateries. The proposal also includes the development of sewerage network and improvement of treatment capacity to prevent waste dumping into the river. Though there are already 11 working sewage treatment plants in the area, additional plants have been proposed under the plan.

While the funding and the development plan still remain undecided upon, the Mula-Mutha Riverfront Development Plan seems to have tied up in policy paralysis. The wait would be over only when the central government would employ a consultant for feasibility report.