Hey folks, brace yourselves for some alarming news coming out of Pune! The latest Environmental Status Report (ESR) for 2023 from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has revealed some shocking details about the pollution levels in the Mutha River. Apparently, the pollution levels in the Mutha River have surpassed even the pollution levels in the Mula-Mutha River, which is quite concerning.
The report, based on water sample analysis from various rivers across the city, found that the Mutha River’s biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels have exceeded the standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). These levels are way above the permissible limits set by the CPCB, with the BOD limit being 30mg/l and the COD limit being 150mg/l.
The PMC collected water samples from six different locations along the Mutha River, and the area near Mhatre Bridge was identified as the most severely polluted. BOD measures the amount of oxygen consumed by bacteria and microorganisms as they decompose organic matter in the water, while COD measures the amount of oxygen required to break down chemical organic matter, including industrial effluents.
The report also analyzed other locations like the Mula-Mutha River, Pavana and Katraj Lakes, as well as Ambil, Nagzari, and Bhairoba nullahs. Among all these locations, the Mutha River recorded the highest contamination levels, which is quite worrisome.
Mangesh Dighe, PMC’s Environment Officer, pointed out that the Mutha River remains relatively clean until it enters the city limits, but the untreated sewage from nullahs within the city boundaries contributes to its contamination. However, efforts are being made to address the sewage issue through the JICA project.
To tackle the issue, PMC officials have started connecting and installing large drains to ensure that open sewage in PMC areas is directed to the nearest sewage treatment plants (STPs) instead of flowing into rivers and canals.
On a related note, BOD levels in Pashan Lake have also increased, surpassing the recommended standards set by the CPCB. However, BOD and COD levels in the Mula-Mutha River were found to be within permissible limits, which is a bit of a relief.
Shailaja Deshpande, founder of the NGO Jeevitnadi, expressed her concern over the excessive BOD levels in the Mutha River, highlighting the lack of natural banks or groundwater springs that could help dilute pollution. In contrast, the Mula-Mutha stretches in the city are greener and have some groundwater springs, which helps maintain lower pollution levels.
Overall, it’s clear that there’s a lot of work to be done to tackle the pollution levels in the Mutha River, but with ongoing projects and initiatives, there’s hope for a cleaner and healthier environment in Pune.
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