Bhima river action plan yet to take off

Having played a key role in taking forward the plan when he was regional officer in Pune,Mirashe said the project stressed the need for efficient management of water supply and waste water treatment systems.

The Bhima river action plan was jointly conceptualised by the district collectorate and the MPCB giving details of the causes of pollution of rivers such as Indrayani,Pavana,Mula,Mutha,Kukadi,Ghod and Bhama,which join the Bhima river.

The plan was submitted a year ago to the state government,which in turn forwarded it to the Centre seeking funds. Last year,the Centre sanctioned Rs 5 crore to the state environment department for preparing the DPR. The agency was asked to ready the plan. “However,the municipal corporations and councils agreed to treat sewage water and have made the necessary budgetary allocations,” he added.

District administration officials said they were awaiting the DPR. “Unless the DPR is ready,there cannot be any progress on the plan,” said a senior official.

The main rivers in the Bhima river basin are Bhima,Ghodganga,Indrayani,Pavana,Mula,Mutha,Nira and their tributaries. The MPCB has gathered information on population,raw water sources,distance from the nearest river and underground drainage facilities from villages along the Bhima and its tributaries. As per the MPCB,the polluted Bhima river reaches the Ujani dam and affects the water source for several villages and towns along the river. It is the main water source for several villages and towns in Pune,Ahmednagar and Solapur districts. Officials said the main reasons for pollution were treated and untreated domestic and industrial effluents,use of chemical fertilisers,absence of flow of water through the year,growth of water hyacinth,sand mining and bathing and washing along the river. Urbanisation and growth of industries in the district resulted in increased generation of waste water,they said.