Pune: Nagar Parishad Claims Indrayani River Polluted Before Reaching Alandi, PCMC Says “Not Us”
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Alandi, 3rd January 2025: For years, the holy Indrayani River, which passes through the pilgrimage sites of Dehu and Alandi, has been plagued by pollution. Over the past few days, foam has once again been observed on the river, particularly after it passes through the embankment in Alandi.
In such circumstances, blame is often directed at the Alandi Nagar Parishad and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). However, the PCMC administration has denied any involvement in the water’s foamy condition, while Alandi Nagar Parishad claims the Indrayani arrives polluted in their jurisdiction.
The Indrayani River becomes foamy and emits a strong odour, prompting concerns from the Warkari sect and environmentalists who have been raising their voices to authorities for years, yet the situation remains unchanged. Environmentalists claim that before the river reaches Alandi, it is contaminated with sewage and chemical-laden water from the industrial belts of Pimpri Chinchwad, Chakan, and Talegaon. There are also accusations that the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is ignoring the issue.
PCMC Chief Engineer Sanjay Kulkarni has stated that all drainages within PCMC limits have been connected to Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs). He asserts that sewage water from industrial areas in PCMC jurisdiction does not directly mix with the river but is processed in STPs before being released. Therefore, according to Kulkarni, Pimpri Chinchwad City is not responsible for polluting the Indrayani or causing the foam.
The focus has now shifted to the Chakan Nagar Parishad, which is being blamed for ignoring the treatment of wastewater from its industrial belt before it enters the river. Additionally, environmentalists have raised concerns about the Alandi Municipal Council’s apparent lack of attention to the issue and have demanded an explanation for the recurring foam problem.
The then Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, during his visit to the pilgrimage site of Alandi, had promised that the Indrayani River would be pollution-free. He announced that Rs 800 crore had been allocated for this purpose by the Directorate of Town Planning & Valuation. However, the situation remains unchanged. Punekar News has repeatedly raised this issue, hoping to bring about a change in the pollution situation.
When contacted, Alandi Nagar Parishad CEO Kailas Kendre told Punekar News, “It has been observed that the Indrayani River is foaming even before it enters Alandi. Work on an STP is in progress at Alandi under the Pilgrimage Development Programme to treat the wastewater generated from the residential areas of Alandi.”
The Indrayani River originates near Lonavala and flows for 96 kilometres through various towns. Its path includes Kamshet, Induri, Talegaon Dabhade, Chakan, Dehu, Talawade, and then Alandi, before finally meeting the Bhima River at Tulapur. In this route, the industrial belt is seen in Chakan, Talegaon Dabhade, and Talawade. However, Talawade falls under PCMC jurisdiction, and PCMC has denied responsibility for the pollution. With this, questions are being raised towards Talegaon Dabhade and Chakan Nagar Parishads, along with the Dehu Cantonment Board, regarding their role in the pollution of the Indrayani River.
