Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries And Agriculture (MCCIA) and Naik Environmental Research Institute Limited (NERIL) have decided to go ahead with the Mula-Mutha river restoration and navigation project in a big way.
Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries And Agriculture (MCCIA) and Naik Environmental Research Institute Limited (Neril) have decided to go ahead with the Mula-Mutha river restoration and navigation project in a big way. They have decided to oppose allegations levelled against the project by some citizen forums.
Magsaysay award winner Rajendra Singh, during a recent visit to the city, had come down heavily against the project after some citizen groups cited that the project did not take into account the existing flood line and other aspects.
The chairman and managing director of NERIL, the consultants of the project, commander (retired) Deepak Naik, told DNA that the same project was presented to Singh during his visit in February 2010, which he appreciated.
“I met him when he came to Mahabaleshwar in February 2010. I showed him the presentation of the river restoration and navigation project, which he appreciated. During his recent visit he was mislead by a presentation by an architect, which was made by plagiarising some of the old presentation made by NERIL,” he alleged.
He said when NERIL was appointed consultant of the Rs124-crore Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) Jawaharlal Nehru national urban renewal mission (JNNURM) river restoration project of Mula-Mutha, the team had modified the detailed project report (DPR).
“The DPR prepared by the PMC was for lean flow, we modified it to suit the flood flow. The allegation that the project doesn’t consider flood line is totally baseless,” he said.
DNA had earlier carried two reports on the issue: Puneites sailing down the Mula-Mutha river? (June 4, 2010) and Mula-Mutha
rejuvenation takes off (October 26, 2010).
MCCIA former president, Mukesh Malhotra, told DNA that to clear the confusion, the chamber would present the project before eminent environmentalists from across the country.
“Singh was completely misled by some people who are acting as self declared intellectuals. These people oppose to all development projects without any cause. Mula-Mutha river is in such a pathetic state for many years and now when the restoration programme is finally taking shape, some people with vested interest are coming up with false allegation to torpedo the project,” he said.
Malhotra said the DPR of the Rs600-crore river restoration and navigation mooted by MCCIA is on its final stage and would be submitted to planning commission and environmental ministry within a month.
“Even before the DPR is submitted, some persons are misleading people that the environmental ministry has rejected the proposal. The industry is completely supporting the project and we will refute all allegations by presenting evidence. The project will be taken forward by the PMC, state government and MCCIA,” he said.
He said MCCIA had invited suggestions regarding the project. “Around 69 citizen groups and NGOs in Pune were invited, of which 49 attended the meeting to discuss the project. The suggestions put forward by the stakeholders were incorporated in the DPR. Now, some people are even alleging that the
public meeting was not held, which is completely false,” he said.
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