Pune: Hinjawadi Residents Raise Alarm Over Alleged Illegal Dumping Along Mula River Floodplain

Reported by Radhika Sharma
Hinjawadi, 19th June 2026: Residents of Blueridge Township in Hinjawadi have raised concerns over what they describe as continuous illegal dumping of construction debris and mixed waste along the floodplain of the Mula River, close to the township’s drinking water intake point.

According to residents, dumping activity has been ongoing since at least mid-April at a site near Maan village, with multiple trucks allegedly making repeated trips every day to unload waste on the riverbank.

“In mid-April, we started noticing these trucks coming in,” said resident Andy Karandikar. “We brought it to the notice of the authorities, went to the site ourselves, captured geo-tagged photographs of the dumping and uploaded them through the central government’s grievance platform.”

Residents estimate that between five and six trucks continue to visit the site during the day, carrying construction debris and other waste materials.

“It’s become shameless,” Karandikar alleged. “They’re mowing down trees to make a path for dumping equipment and JCBs. Earlier, at least they did it through the night. Now we’re seeing five to six trucks during the daytime.”

The dumping site is located on the Mula River floodplain, within what residents describe as a protected floodline zone and less than 50 feet from the riverbank. The area is adjacent to Blueridge Township’s drinking water jackwell intake, which supplies water to an estimated 25,000 residents.

Residents fear that the approaching monsoon could worsen the situation.

“During the monsoon, the river floods. If that happens, all this waste can enter the river and eventually reach the township’s water treatment system,” a resident said.

According to residents, the debris includes construction waste such as cement bags, tiles and rubble, along with mixed solid waste. They also allege that paint waste and other potentially toxic materials have been dumped at the location.

Calling the situation an “environmental tragedy waiting to happen,” residents have expressed concern over the possible impact on the river ecosystem and water quality.

A residents’ group, BRAVE, said it has approached multiple authorities over the last two months, including the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Hinjewadi Gram Panchayat, Maan Gram Panchayat, Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), the Swachh Bharat portal and PMRDA’s grievance portal.

“We reached out to the media only after every authority and every channel was exhausted,” a resident said. “We didn’t get any solutions, only acknowledgements that this is an issue.”

Documents shared by residents show that complaints were first submitted to MPCB on April 24 and again on May 11, accompanied by photographs, GPS coordinates and vehicle details. Additional complaints were filed through the Swachh Bharat platform and PMRDA’s online grievance system.

The matter has since moved between multiple agencies. PMRDA reportedly rejected complaints filed through both platforms, stating that the issue did not fall under its jurisdiction. MPCB later issued notices to Hinjewadi Gram Panchayat, Maan Gram Panchayat and PMRDA seeking compliance reports.

In its response, Hinjewadi Gram Panchayat stated that the site falls within Maan Gram Panchayat limits. Maan Gram Panchayat, in turn, informed authorities that the land belongs to a private owner and that a notice had been issued to the landowner, while seeking intervention from PMRDA and MPCB.

Residents argue that despite complaints, notices and meetings with officials, no visible enforcement action has taken place on the ground. Photographs taken on June 17 reportedly show that the debris pile remains in place and dumping activity continues.

The issue also comes against the backdrop of an ongoing National Green Tribunal proceeding concerning pollution in the Mula River. Residents are now calling for immediate inspection of the site, identification of those responsible for the dumping and urgent measures to prevent further waste disposal before heavy monsoon rains arrive.