Pune: NGT Forms Expert Committee To Investigate Pavana River Pollution
Pune: NGT Forms Expert Committee To Investigate Pavana River Pollution
Pimpri-Chinchwad, August 26, 2025 – The Western Zone of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the formation of a special committee to probe the growing pollution levels in the Pawana River after the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) blamed each other for the contamination.
Committee to Lead Investigation
The committee will include Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). They have been instructed to inspect the affected areas post-monsoon to identify the exact causes of pollution and submit a detailed report.
PMRDA and ZP Trade Charges
During the hearing, the ZP claimed that wastewater is being properly managed and does not flow into the river. However, PMRDA contradicted this, alleging that untreated wastewater continues to enter the river through drains under ZP’s jurisdiction. The conflicting claims prompted the NGT to appoint a neutral committee for a fact-based investigation.
Citizen Involvement Key to Findings
Applicant Advocate Krunnal Ghare welcomed the NGT’s intervention, stressing that citizen participation and on-ground evidence will play a critical role in determining accountability. He pointed out that CPCB has already classified the Pawana River among the most polluted in the country.
Next Steps
The NGT has scheduled the next hearing for December 1, 2025, and directed that all stakeholders be informed in advance of the committee’s inspection visits. The findings are expected to form the basis for strict action against those responsible for the pollution.
