Pune’s polluted rivers emerge among key issue ahead of civic polls

A resident of Punawale says that rivers are the heart of Pune, “yet they are choking under pollution and neglect” (File Photo)

From the heavily polluted Mutha to the choked Pawana, the condition of the rivers has emerged as a key civic concern. With election campaigns gaining pace, voters appear to be increasingly impatient with slogans and assurances,seeking instead visible, sustained action to restore river health and address long-standing environmental and governance challenges.

“The Pawana river has turned into an open drain, and the constant stench from it has become a major problem for us. I don’t want any more promises. I want my elected representatives to implement a strong plan to clean the Pawana river,” said Jyoti Devadkar, a PCMC resident.

Many citizens are demanding adequate and more efficient sewage treatment in the city. “The elected candidate must ensure that rivers remain clean and free-flowing. At several points, including the Mula-Mutha confluence, the river has been reduced to a drain due to untreated sewage and poorly functioning treatment plants. All sewage must be diverted to fully operational plants, with zero discharge into the river. Protecting river health and ensuring healthy neighbourhoods should be a core responsibility of those elected,” said Yuvraj Gatkal, a resident of Vadgaon, Sinhagad road.

Shailaja Deshpande, a citizen who works to protect the environment, especially rivers as a member of Jeevitnadi, said,”The problem of the rivers is still lingering because of raw sewage and untreated or partially treated sewage from the PMC side or the PCMC side. The river water is excessively polluted and, as per Maharashtra Pollution Control Board records, many stretches of Mula, Mutha, Pawana or Indrayani are in priority I & II, which means extremely polluted, which is fit for nothing, especially agriculture.” says Deshpande.

A resident of Punawale, Kiran Bhosale, says that rivers are the heart of Pune, “yet they are choking under pollution and neglect”. “Immediate steps from elected candidates are needed to treat sewage, revive wetlands and protect riverbanks before floods and health hazards worsen,” she adds.

The rich riparian zones, a biodiversity hub of the city, has been under threat due to construction of the Riverfront Development Project. Through the years, citizen groups have been rallying to protect the riparian zones. The approaching elections have strengthened the voices.

Sayali Patwardhan, a resident from Aundh, says, “I want all our city’s rivers – Mula, Mutha, Mula-Mutha, Pawana, Indrayani and Ramnadi – to be clean and free from pollution and encroachment. Protecting riparian zones is crucial for flood control, groundwater recharge and biodiversity. elected representatives must commit to preserving this natural heritage, which has already suffered severe damage.”