Pune: This monsoon, the flooding of the Mula-Mutha rivers has been a major topic of discussion among Pune residents. Conversations are centered around the heavy rainfall, water release from Khadakwasla Dam, the extensive impact on residents, political blame games, encroachments, and debris in the rivers.

On Monday (July 29), these concerns reached Delhi, where Union Water Resources Minister C. R. Patil assured the Rajya Sabha that the Mula-Mutha River revival and cleanliness project will be completed by 2026.

BJP MP Medha Kulkarni raised questions about the decreasing groundwater levels in Pune and the illegal extraction of water through borewells. She also asked whether the central government has any policies in place to address these issues.

In response, Union Water Resources Minister C. R. Patil mentioned that although the state government is responsible for groundwater levels and borewells, the central government has implemented various measures to increase groundwater levels, which are now showing positive results.

The Mula-Mutha River project in Pune has received funding from Japan, amounting to ₹990 crores. The central government will cover 85% of this cost, while the state government will bear the remaining expenses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated this project on March 6, 2022. To date, 40% of the work has been completed, with ₹415 crores already spent.

The project involves constructing 11 water treatment plants to purify 96 million liters of water and laying 53 kilometers of sewage lines. The Union Minister stated that the project is on track to be completed by 2026.