Home / Environment / Pavana River Chokes on Untreated Village Waste
Pavana River Chokes on Untreated Village Waste
19 Feb
Summary
- Untreated sewage from 20 villages pollutes Pavana river.
- Pavana river deemed 'Priority I' polluted by CPCB.
- PMRDA to install 14 decentralized sewage treatment plants.
The Pavana river, a critical drinking water source, is heavily contaminated by untreated wastewater from approximately 20 villages falling under the Pune Zilla Parishad and PMRDA. This pollution has led the Central Pollution Control Board to categorize the river as 'Priority I', a designation prompted by high biochemical oxygen demand and significant fish deaths. A joint committee's investigation revealed that a lack of adequate sanitation facilities, with 57% of households lacking septic tank connections and 92% untreated grey water, results in direct discharge of waste into natural drains feeding the river.
The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has initiated action by planning 14 decentralized sewage treatment plants (STPs) employing Solid Immobilised Bio-Filter (SIBF) technology. These STPs will have a combined capacity of 5.84 million liters per day and are expected to significantly improve the river's water quality once operational.
Environmental activists continue to advocate for comprehensive solutions, pointing out that even areas within municipal limits experience untreated effluents bypassing STPs. The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) relies on the Pavana dam for over 70% of its water supply, underscoring the urgency of addressing the river's deteriorating condition.
