Pune, 13 February 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has taken strict action against Akanksha Developers for illegally dumping construction debris in the riverbed near Tilak Bridge.
The civic body has ordered an immediate halt to the construction work, sealed the project site, and imposed a fine of ₹10 lakh. A criminal case has also been registered against the developer, Nihal Shaikh.
The incident came to light after around 20 trucks of debris were allegedly dumped in the riverbed at midnight. The location, close to the PMC headquarters, triggered sharp criticism of the administration. Following this, Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram ordered an urgent investigation.
Officials worked till early morning to trace the source of the debris. CCTV footage later revealed that the waste had been transported from a redevelopment project in the Shivajinagar Tofkhana area. The project had received permission from the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, and the debris was found to have been dumped by Akanksha Developers.
Commissioner Ram said, “We are making efforts to keep Pune’s river clean and beautiful. Such irresponsible actions will not be tolerated. Anyone found dumping debris in riverbeds or elsewhere illegally will face strict action.”
He added that the PMC has an authorised Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste facility where debris must be disposed of. “Developers must transport their debris to the designated C&D plant and pay the required charges. The receipt will now be mandatory during plinth inspection. Without proof of payment, no certificate will be issued,” he clarified.
Meanwhile, Mayor Manjusha Nagpure has demanded accountability from civic officials. She stated that repeated incidents of debris dumping in riverbeds and canals show negligence at various levels. She has directed that responsibility be fixed on construction inspectors, junior engineers, and concerned ward officials for failing to prevent such violations.
The PMC has said the action is meant to send a clear message that environmental violations will not be tolerated, and strict enforcement will continue against erring builders.
