Environmental experts claim that the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation's (PCMC) proposed waste-to-energy plant in Ravet falls within the 'red zone' of the Dehu Road Ammunition Depot, according to News PCMC. This has raised concerns regarding the project's safety and its potential environmental impact.
The proposed project is located on Survey Numbers 174, 158, and 159 in Ravet, which are owned by MIDC. This site is near the PCMC water treatment plant, Sunrise-Sunset Point, and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg. To the south of the project is the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway (NH-48), and across the highway is the boundary wall of the Dehu Road Ammunition Depot. The distance between the project site and the depot's wall is approximately 200 to 300 meters.
According to environmental expert Dr. Vijaykumar Patil, construction is prohibited within 2000 meters (or 2000 yards by old measurements) of the ammunition depot's boundary wall. Therefore, permission from the Ministry of Defence is essential for this project, and the 'red zone' boundary needs to be accurately determined.
The State Land Records Department had completed a satellite-based survey to determine the 'red zone' boundary in July 2025 and submitted its map to the PCMC. However, due to the lack of approval from the Ministry of Defence, this map has not yet been published. Consequently, the exact boundary of the 'red zone' remains unclear.
Local residents have also expressed concerns about this project. The area is densely populated, and the project is near the Pavana River and a water treatment plant. Residents fear pollutants, foul odors, and health impacts from the project. Currently, PCMC's 14-megawatt waste-to-energy plant at the Moshi garbage depot is non-operational.
