E-Paper
Metro work in Pune incomplete, BJP should focus on evacuation of Indians stranded in Ukraine: Sharad Pawar
Ahead of metro inauguration, Pawar points to environmental concerns for the river development proposal
PUNE A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is to visit Pune for the inauguration of various projects including Metro and riverfront development, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Saturday pointed towards incomplete work and environmental concerns, underlining the need for rescuing Indian students stranded in war-hit Ukraine.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Pune on Sunday (March 6) for the inauguration of the Metro rail service and unveiling other development projects.
Pawar said recently when he undertook a Metro ride, the work was still incomplete. “The Prime Minister will be inaugurating an incomplete Metro project,” Pawar said.
“I agree that there are some important projects in Pune that are incomplete and the PM will be inaugurating the important one, but at this moment rescuing students stranded in Ukraine is also important. I hope so the ruling party is taking the issue seriously,” Pawar said.
Of the 31-kilometre stretch of two corridors, two priority lines with each around 5.5 km will be launched by Modi. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was pushing for the project ahead of the civic polls.
On the riverfront development project for which Modi will lay the foundation stone, Pawar raised environmental concerns while pointing at a letter from the water resource department of Maharashtra.
“I recently went through the letter issued by the Maharashtra irrigation department. It mentioned that the project may bring problem for the river flow and if the riverbed is reduced, it can cause floods,” Pawar said
The project is one of the ambitious ones pushed hard by BJP with Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) being the executing authority. Pawar said he plans to convene a meeting of state authorities, experts, environmentalists and others to discuss the project.
The beautification project intends to make the river accessible for residents for recreational purposes, which is currently out of the question
“I would take an initiative and plan to call the meeting with state governments’ agencies, activists who are raising the doubts and PMC to try and sort out the issue,” said Pawar.
Recently, Maharashtra Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray had said a detailed presentation will be held with PMC to ensure scientific work in the Mula-Mutha river development plan. His remarks came after a delegation of locals and activists.
‘Expedite evacuation of students’
Pawar had recently spoken to external affairs minister S Jaishankar and requested him to expedite the efforts to bring back Indian students stranded along the Ukraine-Poland border at the earliest.
Speaking on the plight of Indian students, Pawar on Saturday said that many students are suffering due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
“I had spoken with an Indian student stranded there. He told me that the Indian embassy told them to cross the Ukraine border, which is a walk of six-odd hours from where this student is located. The students are ready to walk but extreme cold, bombarding and firing is a major cause of worry for them,” he said.
