Pune, 2nd July 2025: The Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition demanding a complete ban on construction within 100 meters of the Mutha river’s flood lines. Instead, the court has referred the matter to an expert committee and instructed the Maharashtra government to take appropriate action based on the committee’s report within four months.
The petition was filed by environmentalist Sarang Yadavadkar, Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch, and Vijay Kumbhar of Surajya Sangharsh Samiti. The petitioners argued that the flood lines of the Mula-Mutha rivers, as revised in the Pune Municipal Corporation’s 2017 development plan, were artificially and incorrectly altered without consulting the Water Resources Department.
They warned that this would lead to unregulated construction near the riverbanks, increasing the risk of flooding and damage to nearby settlements during heavy rainfall.
The petition demanded implementation of the original red and blue flood lines drawn in 2011 and called for a ban on construction within 100 meters of these boundaries.
An interim order was passed by the court on June 26, 2024, wherein an expert committee was appointed. However, the petitioners' lawyers informed the court that the committee is yet to submit its report. During the latest hearing, the court emphasized that the demarcation of flood lines is a highly technical matter beyond judicial expertise. It stated that the expert committee’s findings would be crucial in determining future action.
The court made it clear that it has not passed any final order banning construction within the 100-meter zone of the flood lines. However, once the expert committee submits its report, the state government is expected to make an informed decision and the municipal corporation should follow through with the necessary implementation.
