Hyacinth growth continues to plague Pavana and Mula

PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: Water hyacinth continues to choke the Pavana and Mula rivers, as the private agency hired by the civic body failed to free the river of the free-floating aquatic plant.

Pavana River is the primary source of drinking water for the Pimpri Chinchwad areas. Every year, there is a massive growth of water hyacinth, which leads to a mosquito menace in the Pimpri, Pimple Gurav, Sangvi and Dapodi areas.

According to the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) officials, the floating hyacinth from the upstream areas has created more menace than the weeds growing at the respective river stretches.

PCMC's additional commissioner Jitendra Wagh told TOI, "We regularly follow up with the cleanliness drive through a drone survey and on-field officials."

The officials will conduct a review of the work done on Wednesday.

An official from the PCMC health department said they have divided the hyacinth-prone stretches into six parts, and different contractors have been allotted a part to free it of weeds. "This is a continuous process of removal," he said, adding that the six parts in the civic limits are almost 60km long.

Raju Savale, vice-president of the Pimpri Chinchwad unit of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, said, "Last month, we had to inform PCMC about the hyacinth, after which they removed it. Many patches still have weeds, which pollute the river and create mosquito menace." Savale said the process of cleaning the rivers should be done on a regular basis.


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