Pune: MPCB Issues Showcause Notices to PCMC, Talegaon Municipal Council, and Vadgaon Nagar Panchayat for Polluting Indrayani River
Reported by Tikam Shekhawat & Varad Bhatkhande
Pimpri Chinchwad, 2nd July 2024: In light of repeated media reports concerning Indrayani River pollution, foam formation, and water hyacinth, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has initiated a prosecution notice for legal action against the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), Talegaon Municipal Council, and Vadgaon Nagar Panchayat for discharging untreated domestic effluent into the river.
MPCB Regional Officer Ravindra Andhale has issued the notices to PCMC’s Joint City Engineer, the Chief Officer of Talegaon Municipal Council, and the Chief Officer of Vadgaon Nagar Panchayat. They have been given 15 days to respond with corrective action plans, failing which, MPCB will initiate legal action against them without further notice. They have been warned of action under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, read with the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
According to MPCB, it is obligatory for local civic bodies to treat all sewage generated in their jurisdictions by providing adequate sewage treatment plants and a comprehensive network of sewage-carrying systems. It is also obligatory to maintain the wholesomeness of water quality in natural water bodies, including protecting aquatic flora and fauna by avoiding water contamination.
Following media reports regarding Indrayani River pollution with foam formation and water hyacinth, MPCB officials visited the Indrayani River stretch and observed that these local civic bodies are discharging untreated domestic effluent into the river.
As per the show-cause notice, PCMC is discharging untreated domestic effluent into River Indrayani (at Ramdara Nalla in Kudalwadi), River Pawana, and River Mula. It is also:
– Not providing uninterrupted power supply for all sewage treatment plants.
– Not completing the work of laying interceptor lines along the rivers to collect untreated domestic effluent.
– Not providing a sewage treatment plant with adequate capacity to treat domestic effluent that meets River Indrayani at Kudalwadi through Ramdara Nalla, which is a major source of untreated domestic effluent.
– Not upgrading/designing STPs for BOD-10 mg/L as per consent conditions to achieve the consented standards.
– Not submitting a time-bound program for the upgradation of STPs.
Similarly, Vadgaon Nagar Panchayat has failed to provide a sewage treatment plant to treat the entire domestic effluent generated from its local body jurisdictions. It is discharging untreated domestic effluent, about 3.0 MLD, into the nearby Nallas that further meets River Indrayani.
MPCB has accused Talegaon Municipal Council of failing to provide a sewage treatment plant to treat the entire domestic effluent generated from its council jurisdictions. It is discharging untreated domestic effluent, about 19.2 MLD, into the nearby Nallas that further meets River Indrayani.
