Pune: Declining Oxygen Levels in Mula-Mutha Rivers Trigger Alarm; CWPRS Recommends Corrective Action
Pune, 24th January 2026: A sharp decline in dissolved oxygen levels in Pune’s Mula-Mutha rivers has raised fresh concerns over rising pollution and the deteriorating ecological condition of the city’s main river system. Addressing the issue, the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Khadakwasla, has submitted a comprehensive technical report recommending immediate remedial steps and long-term measures to restore river health.
The Mula-Mutha rivers have been studied extensively over the years through environmental impact assessments, water quality evaluations and riverfront development studies. The latest CWPRS report adds a critical scientific layer to these efforts, offering technical inputs to a draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) focused on river rejuvenation and sustainable management.
According to the findings, the rivers are experiencing high levels of organic pollution and elevated Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), both of which have contributed to the depletion of dissolved oxygen. The report stresses the urgent need to strengthen sewage treatment capacity and improve wastewater management systems to prevent untreated effluents from entering the rivers.
CWPRS experts have also pointed to unplanned and unregulated urban expansion as a key factor affecting river water quality. The report calls for policy-level interventions to ensure that future urban development aligns with environmental safeguards and river conservation goals.
As part of the study, detailed water quality assessments were carried out across rivers and reservoirs using advanced hydrological and mathematical modelling techniques. These simulations were designed to map pollution trends, evaluate restoration scenarios and support evidence-based planning for river rejuvenation.
The study draws on inputs from specialists in chemistry, environmental engineering, civil engineering and botany, adopting a multidisciplinary approach to address complex water resource challenges.
Beyond the Mula-Mutha system, the report also covers water quality assessments of major reservoirs and river basins, including Panshet, Khadakwasla, Ujani, Bhadra, Kali, Tungabhadra, Godavari, Koyna, Kukadi, Ambi, Mutha and Bhima, placing Pune’s river health issues within a wider regional framework.
Officials said the findings are expected to guide future river rejuvenation initiatives, sewage treatment planning and urban development policies, not only in Pune but also in other fast-growing urban centres facing similar environmental pressures.
