The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) spends crores of rupees on sewage treatment plants (STPs) along rivers under its jurisdiction. However, its own STP at its Akurdi headquarters has remained non-functional for months, prompting the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to threaten disconnection of the building's water supply over violation of environmental norms.
Notices Issued Since August 2025
PCMC officials said the civic body issued at least three notices to PMRDA since August last year, directing it to operationalise the STP. However, no substantial action was taken until last week, when the plant was restarted.
Civic officials, who visited the PMRDA headquarters on Wednesday as part of an ongoing drive against establishments violating STP norms, found the plant operational, though officials claimed it was not treating sewage water as per the prescribed standards.
Yogesh Alhat, executive engineer of PCMC's environment department, said, "Our team found the STP operational during Wednesday's inspection, when officials had gone to disconnect the water supply as part of the ongoing drive against large establishments with non-functional STPs. We were informed that the plant had been restarted last week, but the treatment process is still not meeting prescribed norms. The PMRDA has been given time till Monday (May 11) to ensure proper functioning of the plant and compliance with treatment standards, failing which the water supply will be disconnected."
Penalty and Warning
According to civic officials, the first notice regarding the non-functional STP was issued to PMRDA in August last year, followed by notices in November and December. The December notice stated that PCMC had imposed a penalty of Rs 23,000 on PMRDA for violating environmental norms and warned that the water connection would be disconnected and legal action initiated if compliance was not ensured.
Under civic rules, all establishments with a built-up area of more than 20,000 square meters or over 100 flats in case of residential complexes are required to install STPs and reuse treated sewage water.
PMRDA's Response
Rupali Awale Dambe, the assistant commissioner of PMRDA, said in a statement, "PMRDA has undertaken repair and restoration work of the sewage treatment plant (STP) located within its administrative headquarters as it was not operating with its full capacity. The authority initiated repair works through a tender process and work order for the same was issued on December 1, 2025."
The repair work has now been completed and trial operations are currently underway. The STP is expected to become fully operational soon, she added. She said the STP is based on soil scape filter (SSF) technology.
Citywide Drive Against Non-Functional STPs
PCMC has launched a citywide drive against large establishments lacking functional STPs. Alhat said water supply to 24 large establishments, mostly housing societies, has already been disconnected as part of the drive.
The civic body had identified 62 establishments that either lacked functional STPs or failed to comply despite repeated notices.
"While 24 establishments have already faced action, some housing societies sought additional time and submitted proof that work to make their STPs functional is underway. In genuine cases, an additional two weeks is being granted. The remaining establishments will also face action and their water supply will be disconnected," Alhat said.
