Pune: Human Chain Protest Against River Improvement Project outside of PCMC Building

Pimpri, 25th May 2025: Environment-conscious citizens in Pimpri-Chinchwad staged a human chain protest on Sunday (May 25) morning outside of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) building to oppose the ongoing River front development project. Holding banners demanding “Clean the river first and stop illegal tree felling,” the protesters voiced their opposition to the river front development project.

For the past few months, protests have been ongoing against the river front development project. In response to the opposition, PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh has ordered a temporary halt to the project.

However, citizens are demanding that the project be permanently stopped and that priority be given to purifying the river water. They are also calling for the removal of debris dumped in the river, the dismantling of constructions within the blue flood line, and an end to illegal tree felling under the guise of beautification.

This was the eighth protest against the river front development project, with one held outside of the PCMC building. On April 24, environmentalists and citizens held a symbolic hunger strike at the same location. Previous protests included demonstrations within the river itself.

Support for the movement is growing among citizens, who are demanding that the administration permanently halt the project. During Sunday’s human chain protest, more intense protests were decided in the future if their demands were not met.