India, Sept. 16 -- The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to explain how it plans to finance a sewage treatment project for the polluted Pavana River after the Maharashtra government said funds were unavailable under the current Finance Commission cycle.

In an affidavit filed before the NGT's Western Zone Bench, the state government said there were insufficient funds under the 15th Finance Commission cycle to consider a new project. As a result, the National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD) could not provide funds for setting up the sewage treatment plant.

The state said a proposal to continue the National River Conservation Plan under the 16th Finance Commission cycle, coverin...