The Pavana river, which divides the industrial twin towns of Pimpri-Chinchwad and Pune is resembling a slush drain. Industries flush effluents in the lifeline and the only source of water for Pimpri-Chinchwad. The pollution begins downstream from Ravet, 10 km northwest of the industrial belt, where the water is used by the municipal corporation to supply to the cities.
The river is polluted with untreated domestic sewage and industrial effluents from the more than 3,500 industrial units. As per research conducted by various institutes, 40 million litres a day (MLD) of untreated effluents is being discharged into Pavana.
While the city generates 277 MLD of effluents, the corporation at present is able to treat only 210 MLD. Everyday several industries pour dissolved heavy metals which are toxic in nature.
The waters of Pavana meets Mula, a tributary of the Bhima river downstream and finally merge into the Mutha river in Pune, where it is further polluted with about 700 MLD of untreated domestic sewage and industrial effluents. All this muck flows into the river Bhima whose waters affect the lives of more than 75 villages downstream.
