Pune: PMC Gets 0.3 Hectare Land Approval for Delayed 10 MLD STP at Aundh Road Botanical Garden
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 14th May 2026: In a significant boost to Pune Municipal Corporation’s efforts to clean the Mula-Mutha rivers, the long-delayed 10 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at the Botanical Garden on Aundh Road has received crucial approvals, clearing the way for construction to begin.
The Pollution Abatement of River Mula-Mutha (PARMM) project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and implemented by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), envisages the construction of 11 Sewage Treatment Plants with a combined capacity of 396 million litres per day (MLD) across various locations in the city.
According to the latest official update, work on 10 of these STPs is already progressing, while the 10 MLD facility at the Botanical Garden, Aundh Road, had been held up since 2023 due to non-availability of land possession. The land allotment proposal for 0.3 hectare (approximately 30 gunthas) has now been approved, and a Working No Objection Certificate (NOC) has been issued.
This resolves a major bottleneck that had stalled the project for years. The land, part of an area earlier notified as a Biodiversity Heritage Site, has been de-reserved following approvals from relevant authorities including Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth (MPKV), Rahuri.
Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram and Additional Commissioner Pavneet Kaur played a key role in vigorously pursuing the land allotment proposal and securing the necessary clearances. Their sustained efforts have been instrumental in overcoming administrative and inter-departmental hurdles.
The resolution of this long-pending issue marks a major milestone for the JICA-assisted project. Once operational, the 10 MLD STP will treat sewage from the surrounding areas before it enters the river, contributing to the overall goal of reducing pollution in the Mula-Mutha river system.
This development is expected to accelerate the overall progress of the PARMM project, which aims to significantly enhance Pune’s sewage treatment capacity and improve the water quality of the rivers.
