Post Ganesh festival,pollution level in rivers has risen: MPCB

Even as rivers in Pune district have been marked as grade four not potable water by the state government,the increasing chemicals released in the water,especially during the Ganesh immersion,has become another cause for concern.

Even as rivers in Pune district have been marked as grade four not potable water by the state government,the increasing chemicals released in the water,especially during the Ganesh immersion,has become another cause for concern.

River water bodies at Kasarwadi,Dapodi,Mundhwa and Deccan show rise in chemicals post the procession as assessed by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) after samples were collected from all locations for three days of the immersion during the Ganesh festival. The last day witnessing the maximum river water pollution – the board which assesses various parameters of river water pollution finds that the solubility of the water and rise in chemicals post the immersion process a major concern in the last three years.

The use of oil paints for the idols sees a rise in chemicals released in the water, points out regional officer of MPCB P B Mirashe. The MPCB in their measurement of heavy metals in water checks for chromium,copper,lead,nickel,zinc,mercury,cadmium and iron.

Post immersions we see some of the metals presence in the water, Mirashe added.

Field officer of MPCB and an expert in topics related to controlling water pollution Nitin Shinde said the board also studies the biological oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand of the water. As we are grade four,the BOD level is 30 mg/litre while the COD is 150 mg/litre. Though we have not see the immersion process violate these norms over the years,adequate care has to be taken on the materials and paints being used for the idols,he says. This year too water samples have been collected from different locations such as Vitthalwadi,Deccan,Sangam bridge,Mundhwa,Mula,Khadki bridge in the Pune city areas while Dapodi,Sanghvi,Kasarwadi,Pimpri-Chinchwad,Morya Gosavi in the Pimpri-Chinchwad areas. The samples were collected on the third,fifth and yesterday by the board and the reports are expected in five days time.

However over the years awareness,immersion in tanks,collection of nirmalaya for vermicompost has helped in controlling river water pollution. In addition,the municipal bodies also release water during the immersion process to keep the water flow which too helps in keeping the oxygen level of the water level intact.

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Post Ganesh festival,pollution level in rivers has risen: MPCB

Even as rivers in Pune district have been marked as grade four  not potable water  by the state government,the increasing chemicals released in the water,especially during the Ganesh immersion,has become another cause for concern.

Even as rivers in Pune district have been marked as grade four not potable water by the state government,the increasing chemicals released in the water,especially during the Ganesh immersion,has become another cause for concern.