Pune: Citizens Slam PMRDA’s ₹218 Cr Pavana STP Plan Over Outdated Data, Inaccurate Projections
Pune: NGT Forms Expert Committee To Investigate Pavana River Pollution
In the National Green Tribunal matter (Krunnal Gharre vs PCMC and Ors), Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has finally submitted a ₹218 crore sewage treatment plan for the Pavana river with specific timelines. While this commitment and timeline is welcome, citizens have raised serious objections to the plan alleging use of outdated and inaccurate data to create such a plan.
The PMRDA proposal includes commissioning 15 STP’s with combined capacity of 3.5MLD capacity for 54 villages in Pavana watershed by 2030 which as per PMRDA standards should suffice to treat sewage generated for approximately 35000 people. The citizens raise the point that as per 2011 Govt census the population of this area was already ~50,000 exceeding the proposed capacity even then. The report also incorrectly claims Pavana has only 15 polluting drains contradicting PMRDA’s own records which earlier had submitted details and photographs of 20 polluting drains.
Adv. Krunnal Gharre pointed out “If ₹218 Cr is being allocated for a 3.5 MLD STP’s, then clearly nearly ₹200 Cr is likely earmarked for critical ancillary infrastructure like sewage networks, etc which is a welcome and much-needed development. The issue is with the flawed estimation of sewage generation and seemingly an attempt to undermine the true scope of the problem. Setting up such infrastructure in Pavan water shed is a big task. It will take time, maybe even beyond 2030, but let’s be honest about it and present true facts. PMRDA should see what has happened to rivers in PCMC and PMC just because of such flawed data and execution. Pavana stretch is categorized as one of the most polluted rivers in the country as per Central pollution control board. We don’t expect miracles just honest planning based on verified facts and with consistent efforts we can achieve the goal”
