Pune: Widespread debris and trash dumping in Mutha cause concern
Pune: Widespread debris and trash dumping in Mutha cause concern
Flood lines need redrawing and monitoring intensified to prevent encroachments and redraw them accurately. Construction along the river must stop, as the flood-carrying capacity has decreased due to changes in flood lines.
28 June 2024
The Mutha River in Pune faces issues of encroachment, construction debris, and garbage, which hinder its flow during the monsoon season. The river’s flooding in low-lying areas is attributed to impediments to the Mutha’s flow, which is worsened by upstream dams’ release of water. Activists blame the issue on faulty flood lines redrawn in 2016, which were included in the 2017 development plan for Pune.
The prohibitive zone was converted into a developable zone due to incorrect maps and fraudulent flood lines, leading to pollution of riverbanks and the river. The Mutha, a river that enters the city at Shivne, flows past Sinhagad Road, Mhatre Bridge, Deccan Gymkhana, PMC building, and meets the Mula River near the RTO.
Sakshi Jain, an experienced volunteer with the Pune Ploggers, an organization that conducts plogging drives throughout the city shared her opinion on this with Pune Pulse.
“The issue of littering is a significant concern majorly due to citizens and even PMC. It is crucial to spread awareness about the importance of not littering in the first place to reduce garbage and riverbed destruction. Citizens should recognize their duty to take care of the environment, and the cleaning process will follow. We should also clean river beds to prevent littering again. The cycle of environmental degradation starts with citizens, who must maintain cleanliness and raise awareness about littering and plastic usage. Instead of passively enjoying the drama, they should actively participate in addressing these issues.”
The waste lying on the left side of the Mutha River near the Deccan Gymkhana area is a major issue. Despite regular visitors reporting indiscriminate waste disposal, authorities seem to ignore the issue. Food stalls have also been established in reclaimed land after river flood lines were redrawn.
Mud and construction debris were dumped on the riverbed near the flood line in Shivne, RTO area, and Vitthalwadi. Unattended garbage and debris have not been addressed on Sinhagad Road, and garbage near Chhatrapati Sambhaji garden was set afire.
Citizens are often unaware of flood lines and their meaning, leading to flooding in certain areas. Authorities should mark them at all locations to ensure they are not sullied. Residents of Sinhagad Road report that illegal constructions within flood lines are increasing, and the PMC has allowed large residential buildings close to the riverbed. Addressing these issues is crucial for preventing flooding.
Flood lines need redrawing and monitoring intensified to prevent encroachments and redraw them accurately. Construction along the river must stop, as the flood-carrying capacity has decreased due to changes in flood lines.
Sandeep Kadam, head of PMC’s solid waste management department, stated that squads are deployed to take on-the-spot action against dumping of waste and garbage in the river. Monitoring is done at night as well, he added.
