Pune: PMC To Mandate Sensors On 750 Housing Society STPs To Tackle Mula-Mutha River Pollution 

Pune | March 2, 2026

In a major environmental protection initiative, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to install monitoring sensors on sewage treatment plants (STPs) in housing societies with more than 100 residential units across Pune.

The move is aimed at ensuring that treated wastewater meets prescribed quality standards before being released into natural water bodies, particularly the heavily polluted Mula-Mutha River.

Real-Time Monitoring of Private STPs

According to civic officials, nearly 750 private STPs exist in housing societies across the city. However, the PMC currently lacks accurate data on how many of these plants are operational. Investigations have revealed that several societies reportedly shut down STPs due to high operational costs, resulting in untreated sewage being discharged into drains and eventually into the river.

To address this, PMC will now make it mandatory to install sensors on all such STPs. These sensors will:

• Monitor whether the plant is functioning
• Track the quality of treated water
• Send real-time data to a central civic dashboard for continuous supervision

The cost of installing the sensors will be borne by the respective housing societies.

Strict Action Against Violators

Civic authorities have warned that strict action will be taken against societies found violating wastewater treatment norms. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to prevent the Mula-Mutha river from reaching an ecologically “dead” state, as warned by environmental experts.

River Rejuvenation Projects Underway

Parallel to this initiative, the PMC is also expanding the city’s sewage infrastructure. Large-capacity sewage treatment projects with a combined capacity of 396 million litres per day (MLD) are currently under development, including projects supported under the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) programme.

Official Statement

Additional Municipal Commissioner Prithviraj B. P. said,
“Just as sensors are installed at construction sites to monitor air pollution, similar monitoring systems will now be installed on private STPs. These sensors will be connected to a central dashboard for direct supervision, and the cost will be borne by the concerned housing societies.”

The PMC believes the initiative will significantly strengthen wastewater regulation, river protection, and public health safeguards, while improving long-term environmental sustainability in Pune.