Overview
- The state, which announced plans for an independent River Rejuvenation Authority on Friday, shifted the focus from beautification to strict cleanup after review meetings in Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
- Environment Minister Pankaja Munde ordered civic bodies to remove riverbank encroachments, require sewage plants in all housing societies, and link every drain to treatment so only treated water enters rivers.
- She warned industries that violations will bring direct action and directed Pune officials to run all existing sewage treatment plants at full capacity.
- Site checks at Talawade, Ravet, Nigdi and Nighoje found toxic foam, sewage flows and thick water hyacinth in the Indrayani and Pavana.
- Officials proposed fast-tracking a 20 MLD sewage plant at Kiwale, building new plants in newly merged villages, installing aerators at Ravet and Nighoje, commissioning hotspot plants within a year, and tendering hyacinth removal.