Pune: NGT Asks Committee To Set New Timeline To Implement Action Plan For Pavana River Rejuvenation

Pune: NGT Asks Committee To Set New Timeline To Implement Action Plan For Pavana River Rejuvenation
The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) western bench in Pune has directed the state-appointed rejuvenation committee to convene a meeting of stakeholders to set a new timeline for implementing the action plan to tackle pollution in the Pavana river. This decision was made during a hearing on January 7, where the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) informed the tribunal that the committee’s earlier timeline expired in 2023.
The Pavana river has been categorized as a priority I river, indicating that it is the most polluted stretch with a biochemical oxygen demand level above 30mg per litre. This means that the river’s natural oxygen levels have decreased due to high accumulation of organic waste. The river’s pollution has been a long-standing issue, with the CPCB identifying 53 polluted river stretches in Maharashtra in 2018.
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has proposed building seven sewage treatment plants (STPs) to address the issue, but requires time until December 2027 to complete the project. The civic body has sanctioned funds for four STPs, while the remaining three are still in the proposal stage. The NGT has directed the rejuvenation committee to submit a report with a new timeline for implementing the action plan, along with the source of funding, within three months.
The tribunal has also questioned the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) on the number of STPs to be set up in its jurisdiction. The PMRDA has been given two weeks to submit details of the STPs to be constructed and the current status of the proposals.
The matter has been listed for hearing on March 2. In a related development, the NGT stayed the imposition of a Rs 1 lakh fine on the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) until an order is passed on open burning of garbage at Hadapsar industrial site.
The Pavana river rejuvenation project was initiated after the CPCB identified 53 polluted river stretches in Maharashtra in 2018. The state government set up a river rejuvenation committee, which formulated an action plan approved by the CPCB in March 2019. The plan aimed to restore the river’s water quality through measures such as water quality sampling, STPs, waste management, and restoration of water quality.