Pune’s Mula-Mutha River Cleanup Gets Push; 5 New Sewage Treatment Plants Planned by December

Pune, 11th August 2026: The progress of ongoing sewage treatment and sewer network works under the Centre-sponsored National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) for controlling pollution in Pune’s Mula-Mutha river was reviewed at a meeting held at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) on Tuesday.

The meeting was chaired by Zaigam Ali Khan, Joint Secretary, National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD), Government of India. PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram briefed Khan on the progress of the sewage treatment plants (STPs) being developed under the project.

Of the 11 STPs planned under the project, four plants with a combined treatment capacity of 81 million litres per day (MLD) have already been commissioned, according to the PMC.

The civic body has also planned to commission five more STPs with a combined capacity of 290 MLD by the end of December 2026.

The construction of the 15 MLD STP at Tanhajewadi is currently underway and is scheduled to be completed by September 2027.

Meanwhile, the PMC has recently received a no-objection certificate for the site proposed for a 10 MLD STP at the Botanical Garden. The civic body plans to complete the Botanical Garden project within the next two years.

During the meeting, experts appointed by the Central Government presented details of the work undertaken under the project. A proposal for a pilot project to further process sludge generated after sewage treatment at the STPs was also presented.

The PMC expressed its readiness to implement the sludge-processing pilot project on an experimental basis if funds are made available by the Central Government.

Khan also directed the PMC to ensure that the development of sewer networks is completed alongside the construction and commissioning of the sewage treatment plants.

Once all the planned works are completed, Pune’s overall sewage treatment capacity is expected to increase by 396 MLD, which is aimed at strengthening sewage management and reducing pollution in the Mula-Mutha river.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (General) Pavneet Kaur and officials and employees from the PMC’s sewage department were present at the meeting.