Pimpri: Despite the growing pollution in the Pavana, Indrayani, and Mula rivers, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) is being criticized for its failure to take concrete action.

Instead of holding industrial and municipal authorities accountable, the MPCB has been issuing notices, blaming household wastewater as the primary cause of pollution.

Since January 2024, the MPCB has issued three notices to the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), directing them to take action against the discharge of untreated sewage into rivers.

The Board has also claimed to have issued notices to companies without Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), but these efforts appear to be ineffective, as pollution from industries continues unchecked.

The Pavana River, especially near Kejubai Bhandara, and the Indrayani River near Alandi have shown visible signs of contamination, such as foaming and discoloration.

The situation is no different for the Mula River, which also faces significant pollution issues.

The MPCB, after complaints from residents, conducted water tests and concluded that household wastewater is primarily to blame.

However, instead of taking strong action against both civic bodies and industries responsible for polluting the rivers, the Board has limited its response to issuing notices.

Nine years ago, a meeting was held between key stakeholders, including the PCMC Commissioner, MIDC officials, and the Chamber of Commerce, to discuss setting up a Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) to handle industrial wastewater.

However, no significant progress has been made on this front, leaving rivers vulnerable to continued contamination from industrial effluents.

While PCMC has made some progress in diverting polluted drains toward sewage treatment plants, the broader issue of industrial pollution remains unaddressed.

The work on diverting drains into the Pavana River has been completed, and 90% of work on the Indrayani River is done, with only the Alandi section pending. Work has also begun on the Mula River.

MPCB Deputy Regional Officer Manchak Jadhav stated, "Household sewage is contributing to increased pollution in the rivers, and we have repeatedly issued notices to PCMC.

We are also issuing notices to companies discharging chemical wastewater into the rivers. If companies do not have wastewater treatment plants, they are being instructed to install them."