Maharashtra to enforce stringent laws to tackle river pollution

While at the Centre, the focus is on Ganga cleaning, the state government’s approach is to tackle pollution in all the 302 rivers across 36 districts. There are 49 major river stretches, which are the most-effected, including the Krishna, Godavari, Tapi, Wardha-Wainganga, Panchganga, Koyana, Mula, Mutha and Pravara. The state government is pushing public-private partnership modules to raise funds for the river rejuvenation projects.

While raising concern over the high degree of pollution, the chief minister said: “Almost 85 per cent of river pollution is caused due to untreated solid waste and not industrial effluents. Therefore, we have to make sewage treatment mandatory. Untreated solid waste cannot be allowed to flow into the rivers.”

The water resources proposal under consideration suggests the recycling of water for agriculture and treatment of water by local bodies before allowing it to flow into rivers. However, the state government’s foremost concern is to make sewage treatment commercially viable.

Allowing municipal corporations and councils to sell treated water to industries and for agriculture is also recommended. It is expected to help recover the cost of operating sewage treatment plants and also create funds that could be utilised for river preservation.

Water expert Madhav Chitale advocated greater participation of local bodies and villages in the river rejuvenation mission. “The river cleaning drive cannot become a success without the help of local bodies and the participation of villages through which the rivers pass,” Chitale said.