Home / Environment / Rivers Dying: Fish Kills Plague Pune's Waterways
Rivers Dying: Fish Kills Plague Pune's Waterways
15 Sep
Summary
- Mass fish kill incidents have occurred in Pune's Mula and Indrayani rivers.
- Untreated sewage and industrial effluents are identified as primary pollution sources.
- A three-year study shows a severe decline in Indrayani's water quality downstream.
Recent incidents of mass fish kills have been observed in Pune's Mula and Indrayani rivers, sparking fresh concerns over severe river pollution. Dead fish were found floating near the Alandi temple, a significant pilgrimage site. Environmental groups have noted the alarming frequency of such events, attributing them to the unchecked discharge of pollutants.
Activists point to untreated effluent from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits and sewage from upstream villages as the main culprits impacting the Indrayani river. The situation is particularly concerning during monsoon months, contrary to typical patterns. A comprehensive three-year study, conducted between 2022 and 2024, confirmed a significant decline in the Indrayani's water quality.
The scientific assessment revealed a stark contrast between upstream and downstream sections. While upstream areas maintained good water quality, downstream stretches fell into a 'very poor/unsafe' category, with critically high levels of BOD and COD. This indicates severe eutrophication, caused by domestic sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents from the Talegaon-Chakan-Pimpri-Chinchwad industrial belt.
