Pathak to study river pollution

For first-hand knowledge of what's wrong, civic chief to be part of Bhima parikrama

The city's Mula and Mutha rivers merge and meet the Bhima, and the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is keen to actively support the Bhima river basin parikarama (voyage) during mid-monsoon this year.

Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak feels that his participation would certainly offer clues about how the rivers can be cleaned by adopting more comprehensive methods. The river voyage is being conducted by Indian Water Works Association (IWWA).

Going with the flow: Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak feels that PMC's participation in the Bhima River Parikarama willl offer clues about how the rivers can be cleaned. File pic

Bhima is the main river made up of seven sub-rivers including Mula, Mutha, Pawana, Ram, Seena, Kukdi and Indrayani and meets Ujani Dam on the outskirts of the district.

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The main complaint from environmentalist is that sewage from surrounding areas in Pune district is polluting the Bhima.

"A systematic study of Bhima River is required to make a true âriver policy'," said S D Mande, secretary, IWWA.

Mande added that the state has no river policy and Bhima River has been chosen first for a study with public participation. He said the PMC commissioner is also contributing his thoughts on pollution of the Mula and Mutha on the occasion of the IWWA seminar on June 3.

Sunil Joshi, coordinator Jal Biradari, said that college students from the city, farmers and fishermen would also be participating.

"PMC will take its due share in this mission," Pathak said.

Advantage point
Being former member secretary of the Maharastra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), Pathak expressed pleasure in participating in the mission.

"This is certainly a good work for river improvement, including work which will automatically help the improvement programme of Mula and Mutha rivers. My colleagues and I will certainly help to make the mission successful," he said.

Pathak said pre-monsoon cleaning has begun on Mula and Mutha to ensure rainwater can flow unhindered.

"Work has already begun at seven bridges with the help of the Irrigation Department," Pathak said. He added that Mula and Mutha rivers get polluted not only because of sewage from the city alone, but many nearby villages also contribute to the situation. u00a0