Project approved to curb pollution in Mula-Mutha river

The environment ministry on Thursday approved a Rs.990.26 crore project for controlling pollution at Pune's Mula-Mutha river under the National River Conservation Plan.

Environment, Forests and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar said the cost of the project would be shared between the central government and the Pune Municipal Corporation - the implementing agency for the project - in a 85:15 ratio respectively.

"The major reasons for pollution of the river are discharge of untreated domestic waste water into the river due to inadequate sewerage system and sewage treatment capacity in town as well as open defecation on the river banks," Javadekar told the media.

"It will have significant impact in terms of reduction of pollution load in the river and improvement in its water quality besides collateral benefits like use of tertiary treated effluent for irrigation and employment opportunities particularly in the construction stage.

"The project will also improve the aesthetics and sanitation in the town," he said.

According to the union minister, the river is one of the 302 polluted river stretches of the country identified by the Central Pollution Control Board in its report of February, 2015.

He said the project was envisaged to be taken up with loan assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency.