Mula,Mutha ecosystem to be cleaned up on the lines of Mithi

The process used by ECT is the in-stream dissolved oxygen augmentation project where river water would be super saturated with dissolved oxygen at concentrations exceeding 800 mg/l without introducing bubbles into the natural river system allowing 100 per cent oxygen transfer in shallow,moving water without being released into the atmosphere.

S Kastury,principal engineer of ECT said they had suggested a pilot study for the two rivers after thorough evaluation of the quality of both the rivers. “Our pilot project for Mithi river helped cleansing the river,reducing the odour as well as warding off mosquitoes,” he said.

He added that the US patented technology will see no use of chemicals and the green technology as it is called has been a success with rivers in US as well. “With oxygen being injected,the aeration method would revive the water. Mixing of water with air to oxygenate also brings down the stench. The project takes at least six months for expected results,” he said.

The district has been working on a river improvement plan where both short and long term measures are being studied. The report,Bhima River conservation plan for Pune District,aims to draft a policy for river conservation and is pending with the officials. According to an assessment,river pollution is expected to rise to 100 per cent in three years.