Pune: The main candidate in the Pune Metro Rail case before the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in Pune has raised a strong exception to the final report of a three-member expert committee on the impact of Metro construction on the bed of the Mutha river.
The green court had formed the committee of the chief scientist of the National Institute of Environmental Engineering Ritesh Vijay with the chief scientist of the Board of Biodiversity of the State of Maharashtra A Benniamin and the joint director of the Board of Pollution Control of Maharashtra YB Sontakke as the other two members.
The panel was mandated to carry out a study of the 1,7km stretch of a riverbed through which the railroad alignment of the metro will pass. He has opposed the applicants.
- In its final report submitted to the NGT, the committee concluded that the impact of the construction of proposed docks for the subway on the hydrology of the river “is negligible” and that it is likely that a total of 32 trees will be affected by the work of building. Of these, 23 trees will have to be scientifically transplanted on the site outside the project along the river bank,(the statement said by committee).
2. In presenting a response to the committee’s final report on Monday, attorney Asim Sarode and lead candidate Sarang Yadvadkar have argued that the committee has not carried out the evaluation independently and impartially. The response indicated that the panel did not consider the Metro and fluvial road projects cumulatively and, therefore, the anticipated damages are only 6% of what would actually happen.”The critical data considered when reaching conclusions is not correct and real”. ( the statement said by Yadvadkar).
The report, however, stated that the committee could not assess the actual location of the docks and their impact on the riverbed and recommended detailed engineering, micro planning and design of the proposed 100-foot-wide highway along with the report. Detailed Project (DPR).
Not many relevant notifications, policies, studies and laws are considered, and the calculation of the increase in flood levels (inflow) is incorrect, since it is not based on the width of the river, he added. The matter was postponed until February 9.
