Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation discharges sewage directly into mula-mutha
PIC: MAHENDRA KOLHE
After a close watch on the plant, a group of students found that the STP in Pimple Nilakh hardly functions although set up with advanced bio-tower technology 11 years ago; complaint filed with NGT, MPCB
A group of students have exposed malpractices at a sewage treatment plant (STP), being operated by Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC ) in Pimple Nilakh, that has been discharging waste directly into the river for the past few months, causing enormous pollution of the Mula-Mutha .
The students of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha have filed a complaint withMaharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) as well written to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), demanding that a criminal case be filed against the culprits. Incidentally, MPCB served a show-cause notice to PCMC in December last year regarding pollution in the Pavana and Indrayani rivers. PCMC then submitted their action plan on polluted rivers. MPCB warned that if PCMC fails to implement the plan, it will have to pay a bank guarantee of Rs 5 lakh.
About 11 years ago, the STP that can treat 20 million litres of sewage per day was set up to collect and treat waste from Vishal Nagar, Pimple Nilakh and Rakshak Society before discharging into the Mula-Mutha.
Suryakant Sarwade of Rayat Vidyarthi Parishad said, “As compared to other 12 STPs in PCMC, this plant is an advanced one, based on bio-tower technology but it is deliberately being kept defunct, thereby harming the river’s ecosystem and making mockery of citizens’ lives.
When we started visiting the plant, we found sewage water being discharged without any treatment on the pretext of repairing machines.”
The bio-tower technology consists of - primary treatment units, secondary treatment units, solid liquid separation units and disinfection arrangement. However, the plant is in a dismal condition at present. It is ill-maintained and not operated correctly that results in untreated sewage to flow into the river. The plant does not have security or CCTV cameras to keep a tab on equipment. When Mirror team visited the STP, main gate was wide open.
The students revealed that their findings are based on several days of work during which they kept a watch on the activities at the plant. They found that the actual capacity of the plant is to treat 20 million litres of sewage per day. However, it does not even treat 10 million litres sewage in a week, they claimed. They alleged that chemicals required to treat the waste are not being used either.
“The shocking thing is that the PCMC officer concerned sends permission verbally over a phone to mechanics for carrying out the repair work. PCMC does not even have a record to show how the work is being carried. In the garb of frequent repairs, the plant is kept shut and sewage dumped directly into the river. The place is completely unguarded and miscreants use the place for drinks and playing cards. The laboratory, prepared to monitor the work, is also in a mess,” said Sarwade.
Another student Raviraj Kale added, “We have submitted all the photographs and videos of the plant along with the complaint. A detailed inquiry is required and action should be taken against the people who misuse their power while polluting the river. We demand that the treated water be used for construction sites instead of releasing into the river. We suspect major fraud in the plant as PCMC did not conduct its energy audit. The government has asked to conduct the audit as per given norms, which include energy testing, energy unit installation audit and audit of all the units and machineries. But PCMC did not conduct the audit and did not even maintain the plant.”
Their friend Omkar Bhoir said, “We found that workers at the plant don’t have any safety measures like caps, gloves and masks. There is no use of having STPs if they are lying defunct after spending crores of rupees.”
When Mirror contacted PCMC municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar, he said, “We have received a complaint. I have appointed a team to conduct an inquiry into the matter. The team will visit the plant and submit a detailed report to me. We can decide further action after the report.”
Earlier, MPCB carried out a survey and found that several fish had died with 47 million litres per day (MLD) of water flowing untreated in both the Pavana and Indrayani rivers. PCMC filters 312 MLD of 520 MLD sewage water it generates daily and the rest is discharged into the rivers directly.
A group of students have exposed malpractices at a sewage treatment plant (STP), being operated by Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (
The students of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha have filed a complaint with
(Top left) The group of students of Rayat Vidyarthi Parishad discuss issues at the sewage treatment plant (above right) in Pimple Nilakh that discharges waste in the Mula-Mutha (above left), polluting the river
About 11 years ago, the STP that can treat 20 million litres of sewage per day was set up to collect and treat waste from Vishal Nagar, Pimple Nilakh and Rakshak Society before discharging into the Mula-Mutha.
Suryakant Sarwade of Rayat Vidyarthi Parishad said, “As compared to other 12 STPs in PCMC, this plant is an advanced one, based on bio-tower technology but it is deliberately being kept defunct, thereby harming the river’s ecosystem and making mockery of citizens’ lives.
When we started visiting the plant, we found sewage water being discharged without any treatment on the pretext of repairing machines.”
The bio-tower technology consists of - primary treatment units, secondary treatment units, solid liquid separation units and disinfection arrangement. However, the plant is in a dismal condition at present. It is ill-maintained and not operated correctly that results in untreated sewage to flow into the river. The plant does not have security or CCTV cameras to keep a tab on equipment. When Mirror team visited the STP, main gate was wide open.
The students revealed that their findings are based on several days of work during which they kept a watch on the activities at the plant. They found that the actual capacity of the plant is to treat 20 million litres of sewage per day. However, it does not even treat 10 million litres sewage in a week, they claimed. They alleged that chemicals required to treat the waste are not being used either.
“The shocking thing is that the PCMC officer concerned sends permission verbally over a phone to mechanics for carrying out the repair work. PCMC does not even have a record to show how the work is being carried. In the garb of frequent repairs, the plant is kept shut and sewage dumped directly into the river. The place is completely unguarded and miscreants use the place for drinks and playing cards. The laboratory, prepared to monitor the work, is also in a mess,” said Sarwade.
Another student Raviraj Kale added, “We have submitted all the photographs and videos of the plant along with the complaint. A detailed inquiry is required and action should be taken against the people who misuse their power while polluting the river. We demand that the treated water be used for construction sites instead of releasing into the river. We suspect major fraud in the plant as PCMC did not conduct its energy audit. The government has asked to conduct the audit as per given norms, which include energy testing, energy unit installation audit and audit of all the units and machineries. But PCMC did not conduct the audit and did not even maintain the plant.”
Their friend Omkar Bhoir said, “We found that workers at the plant don’t have any safety measures like caps, gloves and masks. There is no use of having STPs if they are lying defunct after spending crores of rupees.”
When Mirror contacted PCMC municipal commissioner Shravan Hardikar, he said, “We have received a complaint. I have appointed a team to conduct an inquiry into the matter. The team will visit the plant and submit a detailed report to me. We can decide further action after the report.”
Earlier, MPCB carried out a survey and found that several fish had died with 47 million litres per day (MLD) of water flowing untreated in both the Pavana and Indrayani rivers. PCMC filters 312 MLD of 520 MLD sewage water it generates daily and the rest is discharged into the rivers directly.
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