As part of the RFD project, 11,000 trees of the 22,150 in the project area will be felled and 11,150 trees will be transplanted. (Express File Photo by Arul Horizon)Claiming that the RiverFront Development (RFD) project would provide complete protection of adjoining localities of Mutha river from flooding and increase the water carrying capacity of the river, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has sought Rs 300 crore from the state Disaster Management department for developing the RFD on a stretch from Vadgaon Khurd to Rajaram bridge to tackle the flooding at Ektanagar, Vitthalnagar and Nimbajnagar on Sinhagad road, when water is released from Khadakwasla dam.“The Rs 4,727 crore RFD project is implemented in phases for the 44.40 km stretch of the Mula and Mutha river passing through the civic area. This project will increase the water carrying capacity of the rivers and also provide complete protection from flooding to localities alongside the river,” said municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram.Last year and as well as in the past, the locality of Ektanagar, Vitthalnagar and Nimbajnagar on Sinhagad road witnessed flooding after a large amount of water was released from Khadakwasla dam. “The residents of the flood affected localities are demanding immediate implementation of the RFD project at the Mutha river bank alongside their locality.However, the entire project completion will take ten years and the 4.10 km river stretch in the area needs Rs 300 crore for development under RFD. If the state government gives funds through Disaster Management for the purpose then the development of the stretch can be taken up immediately,” he said.The project includes constructing embankments on both sides, a jogging track, tree plantations, beautification of the bank and stopping sewage water from entering through nullahs in the area.The Pune civic body has completed 90 percent work of RFD on 3.7 km stretch from Sangamwadi to Bundgarden, 32 percent of work on 5.3 km river stretch from Bund Garden to Mundhwa bridge while recently started work on the 8.8 km stretch from Wakad bypass to Sangvi, he added.Ajay Jadhav is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, Pune. He writes on Infrastructure, Politics, Civic issues, Sustainable Development and related stuff. He is a trekker and a sports enthusiast. Ajay has written research articles on the Conservancy staff that created a nationwide impact in framing policy to improve the condition of workers handling waste. Ajay has been consistently writing on politics and infrastructure. He brought to light the lack of basic infrastructure of school and hospital in the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde even as two private helipads were developed by the leader who mostly commutes from Mumbai to Satara in helicopter. Ajay has been reporting on sustainable development initiatives that protects the environment while ensuring infrastructure development. ... Read MoreClick here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:PMC