The Pavana and Indrayani rivers, vital to millions in Pimpri Chinchwad, are choking under pollution, with toxic foam blanketing their surfaces and fish dying in alarming numbers. Urgent action is needed to save these waterways and protect the communities that depend on them.
Pune | 25 July, 2025: The Pavana and Indrayani rivers, once vibrant lifelines for Pimpri Chinchwad, are now in a dire state. Thick layers of white foam float across their surfaces, a grim sign of untreated sewage and chemical waste poisoning the water. Fish, struggling to survive in oxygen-starved waters, are dying and washing up along the banks. These rivers, which supply drinking water to nearly 30 lakh residents, are turning into open sewers, threatening both human health and the environment.
Rapid urbanisation and industrial growth have overwhelmed the rivers. Untreated waste from housing societies, industries, laundries, and slaughterhouses flows directly into the Pavana, which stretches 25 kilometres through the city. Solid garbage, chemical discharge, and invasive water hyacinth clog the waterways, narrowing their channels and choking aquatic life. The Indrayani, too, suffers from similar pollution, with foam patches signaling toxic contamination. Despite these alarming signs, efforts to curb the pollution have been inadequate, leaving residents worried about the water they rely on daily.
The Pavana’s role as a drinking water source makes the situation even more critical. The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) draws 510–530 million litres of water daily from the Pavana dam, but the growing population strains supply, forcing alternate-day distribution. Meanwhile, industries and commercial units continue to dump untreated wastewater, compromising water quality. The declining oxygen levels, coupled with rising chemical pollutants, have triggered a collapse in aquatic ecosystems, with fish gasping for air and invasive hyacinth spreading unchecked.
Residents and environmentalists are frustrated by the lack of action. While the PCMC and Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) have been alerted, enforcement against polluters remains weak. Plans for a river improvement project have received environmental clearance, and tenders are reportedly in the works, but visible progress is scarce. The unchecked discharge of waste continues to degrade the rivers, raising questions about whether the damage can be reversed.
The human toll is undeniable. Communities along the rivers face health risks from contaminated water, while the loss of aquatic life signals a broader ecological crisis. Simple steps, like stricter regulations on waste disposal and regular cleanup drives, could make a difference. Restoring the Pavana and Indrayani requires collective effort—residents, authorities, and industries must work together to revive these vital waterways before they’re lost forever.
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