Pune: Citizens Rally Against River Pollution in Pimpri: Urgent Action Needed to Save Pawana, Mula, and Indrayani

Pimpri, 11th November 2023: Concerned citizens and environmental activists gathered at Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Chowk (Pimpri Chowk) in Pimpri to raise their voices against the alarming pollution in the Pawana, Mula, and Indrayani rivers, vital lifelines for many villages, including Pimpri-Chinchwad city. The deteriorating water quality poses a significant threat to biodiversity and ecosystems within these rivers.

The demonstration aimed to target the local administration and entities responsible for the pollution. Representatives from various environmental social organizations, alongside concerned citizens, participated in large numbers to voice their concerns.

The primary issues highlighted during the protest include the illegal discharge of polluted and chemical water by companies into the Pawana, Mula, and Indrayani rivers. Additionally, closed Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) projects in housing societies and apartments are reportedly releasing a substantial amount of polluted water into the rivers. The untreated sewage from the city is also being directly released into the rivers through drains, transforming these vital water bodies into large drains that frequently foam and exhibit glacier-like formations.

Citizens have filed complaints with the municipal administration and the Maharashtra State Pollution Corporation, expressing dissatisfaction with the slow response and alleging a lack of proactive measures. Concerns were raised about potential conflicts of interest, with citizens accusing senior officials in the environment department of being associated with the companies responsible for pollution.

Citizens are demanding swift action against those responsible for illegally discharging pollutants into the rivers, emphasizing the adverse effects on biodiversity and human life. Calls were made for filing cases of culpable homicide against individuals, institutions, and related entities involved in such activities. The protesters hold the local administration and pollution control authorities accountable for the incident, urging legal action against the organizations and their leaders.

The demonstration at Dr Ambedkar Chowk included public awareness initiatives, such as displaying signboards to passing vehicles, and protests against the local administration’s handling of the environmental crisis.