After heavy rainfall in the Deccan area, the banks of the Mutha River in Pune are facing a serious pollution crisis. Plastic and other waste materials have overwhelmed the river, causing concerns about the deteriorating water quality in the region. Despite cleanup efforts by citizens and periodic drives, the situation persists, raising doubts about the effectiveness of waste management by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
The Mutha River in the Deccan area is known as one of Pune’s most polluted stretches of water. Data from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) shows that the water quality index has been consistently ‘bad’ with readings ranging from 40.12 to 44.69 from January to March this year. Untreated sewage discharge, widespread waste dumping, and plastic pollution are the major contributors to the degradation of the river’s ecosystem.
Citizens advocating for river conservation are pointing fingers at the PMC for failing to prevent waste dumping into the river. Despite occasional cleanup drives, the lack of effective waste management infrastructure and enforcement mechanisms worsens the problem. Harshad Barde from Swachh stresses the need for awareness campaigns and installing garbage bins along the riverbanks to tackle illegal dumping practices.
Solid waste, construction debris, and untreated sewage are identified as major pollutants in the Mutha River by Shailaja Deshpande, co-founder of the River Foundation. While PMC has installed nets at some locations to catch waste, there is a lack of comprehensive strategies to prevent waste flow into the river. Deshpande emphasizes the importance of extending net coverage and implementing strong waste collection mechanisms to address the root causes of pollution.
PMC’s response to the crisis includes imposing fines on commercial entities caught dumping waste into the river, especially during late hours. Collaborative cleanup efforts involving waste pickers and volunteers are also being carried out. Sandip Kadam from PMC’s Solid Waste Management Department highlights the necessity of riverbank fencing to deter illegal dumping and assures the public of PMC’s commitment to proactive waste collection strategies.
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