The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to explain how it plans to finance a sewage treatment project for the polluted Pavana River after the Maharashtra government said funds were unavailable under the current Finance Commission cycle.
However, with central funding unavailable under the existing scheme, the civic body will have to explore alternative sources for the remaining funds. The NRCD and the Union ministry of Jal Shakti’s Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation were also granted four weeks to file their replies. The state said a proposal to continue the National River Conservation Plan under the 16th Finance Commission cycle, covering 2026-27 to 2030-31, was still under consideration. PCMC is prepared to provide 40% of the project cost as the state share, according to the affidavit.
As a result, the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) could not provide funds for setting up the sewage treatment plant.
In an affidavit filed before the NGT’s Western Zone Bench, the state government said there were insufficient funds under the 15th Finance Commission cycle to consider a new project.
The tribunal is hearing two connected cases concerning pollution in the Pavana River, including one initiated following a February 2024 news report that said the river had entered the “Priority 1” pollution category.
