Pune Residents Take Matters Into Their Own Hands to Clean Polluted Mula River
In a striking display of community initiative, residents of Blue Ridge Township in Hinjewadi, Pune, have pooled resources to tackle a severe environmental crisis. Frustrated by years of official inaction, they have crowdfunded approximately Rs 2 lakh to remove a dense layer of water lettuce choking the Mula river. This invasive plant, known scientifically as Pistia stratiotes, has created a blanket of weeds, emitting a foul stench and serving as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, thereby heightening risks of diseases like malaria and dengue.
Decades of Complaints Ignored by Authorities
The cleanup effort, spearheaded by 63-year-old retired irrigation department official Akash Bokade, began in March after numerous pleas to government bodies went unanswered. Bokade sent eight emails and delivered letters in person to agencies including the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA), Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC), and even the office of late deputy CM Ajit Pawar, from March 2024 to March 2026. A unit of the township also wrote to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in March 2024, highlighting the contamination linked to the water lettuce proliferation.
According to Bokade, the cleaning operation involved around 12 workers and an earthmover, with activities spanning multiple days. He supervised the work daily from 9 am to 6 pm, often joined by other residents. "The river has turned green here, and no authority was doing anything to clean it," Bokade stated. "If maintenance is done every three months, it would cost Rs 50,000, but due to prolonged neglect, the current effort is much more expensive."
Health and Environmental Concerns Mount
The water lettuce infestation has raised alarms about river water quality, particularly as Blue Ridge Township is one of 12-13 townships in PMRDA's jurisdiction that rely on the Mula for water. Resident Dhananjay Jabade, an IT professional, explained that a check dam near the township causes sewage and weeds from upstream to accumulate, leading to stagnation, oxygen depletion, and severe degradation of water quality. "The river is almost entirely covered by weeds," Jabade noted.
Local officials attribute the problem to upstream pollution. Hinjewadi gram panchayat sarpanch Ganesh Jambhulkar pointed out the absence of a sewage treatment plant (STP) in areas like Maan and Marunji, where waste flows directly into the river. "We have written to PMRDA on this issue, but upstream villages continue to pollute the river," Jambhulkar said. He added that the gram panchayat spent Rs 1 lakh last year on cleaning and is considering hiring machinery for further efforts.
Official Responses and Systemic Failures
PMRDA chief engineer Rinaj Pathan stated that while a detailed project report for pollution abatement of the Mula and Mutha rivers is in preparation, temporary measures like clearing hyacinth fall under the gram panchayat's responsibility. MPCB Pune regional officer Babasaheb Kukade emphasized the need for an STP, noting that both PMRDA and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation have plans for one, but implementation awaits funding. "Domestic sewage should be treated and reused, but many societies release it untreated into the river, exacerbating pollution," Kukade explained.
In a statement, the developer of Blue Ridge Township acknowledged the issue, citing a mutual agreement among stakeholders to hire a professional contractor for cleanup. They highlighted concerns about a temporary earthen bund from bridge construction restricting river flow and called for coordinated action from all agencies.
Community Efforts and Calls for Permanent Solutions
Residents, including IT professionals like Sandip Roy and Anirudha Karandikar, have voiced frustration over having to step in where authorities have failed. "We pay taxes, buy expensive flats, and then grapple with a polluted river," Roy said. "This is a temporary solution; the government must find a permanent one." Karandikar added, "The fear of how overgrowth affects our water supply is constant. It points to a systemic failure."
This is not the first community-led initiative; in March, residents also conducted a two-day drive to collect plastic and garbage from the river. In recent letters to authorities, they have demanded immediate removal of water lettuce, water quality testing, disinfection, and establishment of long-term monitoring mechanisms.
The township, home to around 5,000 flats and 15,000 residents, continues to advocate for sustainable solutions, underscoring the urgent need for governmental accountability and environmental stewardship in Pune's rapidly developing regions.
