Mula River pollution in Hinjewadi has left residents dealing with foul odour, sewage-mixed water, construction debris and dead fish, according to a report by Lokmat-Pune published on October 25. Residents have demanded that authorities identify the sources of contamination, inspect sewage treatment systems and restore water flow in the riverbed.
The affected stretch is in Hinjewadi, a major information technology hub in Maharashtra. The report says the river has faced pollution throughout the year, with untreated or sewage-mixed wastewater allegedly entering the river at several locations. The resulting smell has spread through the surrounding area, while dead fish have been found in the water, residents said.
Residents have attributed the worsening condition partly to the lack of water flow in the riverbed. They have asked that water be released from Mulshi Dam in a planned manner so that the river can remain flowing. The demand is accompanied by a call for a permanent solution to prevent sewage-mixed wastewater from entering the Mula River.
Vikram Sakhare, a former sarpanch of Hinjewadi, said the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the Water Resources Department should take a firm position on the issue. He called for pollution sources to be traced, sewage treatment facilities to be inspected and appropriate planning for water release from Mulshi Dam.
“The Mula riverbed is being turned into a sewer,” Sakhare said, according to the report. He added that sewage-mixed wastewater was entering the river directly at several points and that the lack of flow had intensified the foul smell. Residents also reported finding aquatic animals dead in the riverbed.
Vishwas Jambhulkar, a Hinjewadi resident, said the riverbed needed to be cleaned and restored to a flowing condition. He urged senior officials from the concerned departments to treat the matter seriously and respond to the concerns of villagers.
The report said residents have expressed anger over what they described as repeated administrative inaction by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, the Water Resources Department and the Health Department. The central concern is that a rapidly expanding urban and employment zone continues to face basic environmental and sanitation problems despite the pollution issue being raised repeatedly.
Residents have also questioned whether any authority is responsible for protecting their health and ensuring a clean environment. The immediate demands before the concerned departments are to examine the pollution sources, assess sewage treatment infrastructure, address solid waste and debris in the riverbed, and determine whether a controlled release from Mulshi Dam is feasible. The report did not include a response from the departments named by residents.
