Aaditya Thackeray Blames Riverfront Development Project, Neglect for Pune’s Rain Chaos

Pune, 3rd April 2026: Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday criticised the administration over the Pune city’s response to recent rains, alleging that the widespread waterlogging exposed systemic failures rather than an extreme weather event.

In a social media post on X, Thackeray said that the rainfall witnessed in Pune did not qualify as a cloudburst or extreme precipitation within a short span, yet large parts of the city were inundated. He stated that the inconvenience faced by citizens was not merely due to a single spell of rain, but a result of sustained ignorance adopted by the government and the ruling establishment to the visible signs of environmental disaster.

He pointed out that for the past four years, environmentalists, urban planners, engineers, civil society members and political leaders have repeatedly raised concerns over certain infrastructure projects and suggested alternatives. According to him, developments such as the riverfront project, improper placement of metro pillars, encroachments along riverbeds, alterations to flood lines, and the proposed development affecting Vetal Tekdi have collectively impacted Pune’s ecological balance.

Thackeray further said that unplanned urbanisation and excessive concretisation cannot be equated with development, adding that the ruling dispensation’s approach over the past decade has worsened the city’s vulnerability to such situations. He warned that if the current model of development continues, Pune could face similar disruptions more frequently.

⚠️ Pune’s rainfall yesterday wasn’t in the category of cloudburst or exceptionally high precipitation over a period of 4 hours, what was exceptionally visible is the failure of governance.

The hardships faced by water logging yesterday wasn’t because of an overnight incident,…

— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) April 3, 2026

Recalling his tenure as Maharashtra’s environment minister in 2021, Thackeray said he had stayed the riverfront development project and recommended modifications in line with the city’s ecological needs. He also stressed the need to restore natural flood lines and protect green spaces, including the Salim Ali Bird Sanctuary and Vetal Tekdi, which he said are crucial for maintaining environmental stability.

“The choice lies with us, and the consequences were visible yesterday,” he said, urging authorities to prioritise sustainable planning.