Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding pollution of Pawana river, Pune, Maharashtra, 05/04/2024
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of News item titled "Pavana River enters ‘priority 1’ category due to increase in pollution" appearing in the Hindustan Times dated 26.02.2024 dated 05/04/2024. The application was registered suo-motu on the basis of the news item titled "Pavana River enters ‘priority 1’ category due to increase in pollution" appearing in the Hindustan Times, February 26, 2024. The news item relates to increasing pollution in the River Pavana near the Pimpri-Chinchwad area in Pune, Maharashtra.
As per the article, Pavana river has been classified into four stretches encompassing Pimprigaon, Chinchwadgaon, Ravet and Sangavi. As per the disclosure made in the news item BOD levels in these stretches have constantly been increasing. The increased urbanization, inadequate infrastructure for sewage water treatment and mixing of untreated sewage with river water are the main cause for the pollution of the river across Pune.
The NGT directed impleading the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB); Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB); District Collector/District Magistrate, Pune and Commissioner, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). The report on behalf of the MPCB has been filed which also talked about the water quality of the Pawana river. Treated effluent from sewage treatment plants of PCMC is not meeting the consented standards and substandard effluent is being discharged in to Pawana river. Further, untreated domestic effluent is being discharged through various nalla's into Pawana river from PCMC area, the report said.
The report also contained the brief response of the PCMC that the steps have been taken for strengthening the sewage network and a new interceptor line has been laid down. The report does not contain the details of the total discharge and different drains which are discharging the sewage in the river and the detailed steps which have been taken to prevent such discharge.
The NGT directed the PCMC to file a detailed report covering all the aspects relating to sources of pollution of river Pawana and the remedial actions which have been taken/proposed by the PCMC. Along with the report of the MPCB, the details of STP’s have been enclosed which reveals that most of the STP’s are not functioning and are exceeding the parameters. PCMC was also directed to respond to the non functioning of the STPs.