In a notable development, the Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) has instructed the Maharashtra government to immediately stop all construction activities related to the proposed Balbharati-Paud Phata Road (BBPP) project until the apex court completes its review of the matter.A letter dated May 16, signed by Siddhanta Das, chairman of the CEC, and addressed to the Maharashtra chief secretary, stated that no work should proceed in areas classified as “deemed forest” along the 2.1 km proposed road alignment. The committee cautioned that continuing construction in these zones would violate the Supreme Court’s 1996 judgment in the T.N. Godavarman vs Union of India & Others case, as well as the Van (Sanrakshan Evam Samvardhan) Rules, 2023.This directive followed a petition filed in March 2024 by the Vetal Tekdi Bachav Kruti Samiti (VTBKS), a Pune-based citizens’ group. The petition sought the CEC’s intervention to safeguard the Vetal Tekdi (hill) and its ecologically sensitive forest ecosystem from what the group described as “irreversible damage.” The group also alleged that the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had not complied with a 2016 Bombay High Court order, which mandated a comprehensive need assessment and an environmental impact assessment before any decision could be made regarding the project.Subsequent to the petition, the CEC carried out a site visit on April 12, 2024, and submitted its findings, which are currently under the apex court’s consideration. CEC member Sunil Limaye visited the project site where approximately 30 citizens voiced their concerns, emphasising the importance of preserving the existing ecosystem on the hill. He also met with representatives from the PMC road department and forest officials.Earlier, in February 2025, the Bombay High Court had dismissed a petition filed by the city-based NGO Nagrik Chetna Manch, which challenged the proposed Balbharati-Paud Road passing through Law College Hill. The court had also directed PMC to obtain any necessary permissions from the environment and forest departments before proceeding with the construction.Environmental activists welcomed the CEC’s order to maintain the status quo on the project. Amit Gadre, a member of VTBKS, described the directive as a significant relief for those raising concerns about the plan, noting that construction had been halted while awaiting the Supreme Court’s judgment.The Balbharati-Paud Phata Road plan was included in the city’s development plan (DP) to help ease congestion on Law College Road.News source: Hindustan Times