In a major relief for environmentalists in Pune who are fighting to protect Vetal Tekdi, one of the last remaining green spaces in the city, the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on Friday directed that no construction activity be undertaken for the Balbharti-Paud Phata road project until the matter is considered by the Supreme Court.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Maharashtra, the CEC specifically instructed that no work should be carried out in areas that are “Deemed Forest” through which the proposed 2.1 km road alignment passes. "Undertaking construction in this area would constitute a violation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s judgement in the T.N. Godavarman vs Union of India & Ors. Case (1996), as well as the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023," it said.

The directive follows a representation submitted in March 2024 by members of Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS), a citizens’ collective, seeking the CEC’s intervention to prevent irreversible ecological damage to the hill slope and forest ecosystem of Vetal Tekdi.

The petition challenged the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)’s plan to proceed with the project as a temporary traffic decongestion measure, arguing that it has failed to truly comply with the Bombay High Court Order of 2016 mandating both a need assessment and an environmental impact assessment before any decision to proceed.

In response to this petition by VTBKS, the CEC conducted a site visit and subsequently submitted its report, which is currently under consideration by the apex court.

Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government has been directed to maintain a status quo and ensure that no activity is undertaken in the area until the top court delivers its decision.

Earlier in February this year, the Bombay HC had refused to restrain the PMC from executing the project while insisting on seeking clearance from the forest department and environment department for the same. The court stated that it was of the opinion that it was for the planning authority to consider the feasibility of the construction of Balbharti Road, which is being claimed would relieve the traffic congestion on Law College Road.