Untreated sewage from 20 villages in ZP & PMRDA limits major source of Pavana pollution: Panel in report to NGT

Pune: Untreated sewage and sullage (grey water) from at least 20 villages under the Pune Zilla Parishad and PMRDA have emerged as major contributors to pollution in the Pavana river, stated a joint committee report submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) last week. NGT ordered the formation of the joint committee last Aug after the river slipped into the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) ‘Priority I' category due to rising pollution levels and high biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) — linked to mass fish deaths reported near Thergaon. The committee comprised officials from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the Pune district collector to verify if untreated wastewater from villages under the ZP was being released into the Pavana river.
The three-member committee reviewed the situation and found extensive discharge of untreated household waste from villages along the river. "Around 57% of households lack septic tank connections, leading to direct discharge of sewage into open drains flowing into the river. Similarly, nearly 92% of households have no kitchen garden-based grey-water treatment systems, resulting in sullage entering natural drains without treatment," the report stated.The committee identified 15 natural drains channelling sewage and sullage into the Pavana river and recommended time-bound action by ZP and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) to prevent further deterioration of water quality.The PMRDA has begun work on 14 decentralised sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a combined capacity of 5.84 MLD, using Solid Immobilised Bio-Filter (SIBF) technology (a sustainable, eco-friendly wastewater treatment technology using a specialised and stationary ecosystem to consume waste). "The tendering process has begun and on-ground work will start soon," a senior PMRDA official said.Environmental activists have long raised concerns over pollution in the Pavana river, which originated near Lonavla and travels nearly 60km before merging with the Mula river in Dapodi, including a 25km stretch through Pimpri Chinchwad. PCMC officials have previously attributed the river's poor condition to untreated discharge from areas outside municipal limits, prompting NGT's intervention. Incidents of white toxic foam, especially near Thergaon, have frequently been reported by residents and activists.Rahul Sarwade of the Thergaon Social Foundation welcomed the action outside PCMC limits but stressed the need for the civic body to evaluate its own systems. "In several PCMC areas, domestic effluents still bypass STPs and enter the river directly. Water quality outside the city limits remains better than within PCMC, underscoring the need for stronger civic measures," he said.The Pavana river is the primary drinking water source for Pimpri Chinchwad, which draws over 70% (520 MLD) of its supply from the Pavana dam.