Mutha Riverbed Chokes on Garbage; Residents Demand Action from Authorities

Pune: Mutha River has become a dumping ground for hundreds of tons of garbage despite repeated releases of water from the Khadakwasla dam in the past two months.

The trash problem, which originates from both suburban and city areas, has grown to a scale where the municipal corporation finds itself overwhelmed.

Efforts to remove the waste have been insufficient as the garbage continues to pile up after every water release, exacerbating pollution levels in the river.

The garbage problem spans from the villages beyond Khadakwasla dam to the municipal limits, with the riverbanks remaining open and accessible, leading to unrestricted dumping.

Despite the inclusion of these areas within the municipal corporation's jurisdiction, many villages still lack proper garbage collection facilities, resulting in continuous waste disposal along the river year-round.

The problem intensifies each time water is released into the river, with the accumulated garbage being carried downstream and settling in the riverbed.

This recurring issue has left the municipal corporation in a state of helplessness. Although the administration, along with various local voluntary organizations, has attempted to clean the riverbed post-flood, the constant influx of new garbage undermines their efforts.

Citizens are urging the corporation to take stronger preventive actions, such as installing nets similar to those used to prevent garbage from entering city drains.

Dr. Darshan Shah, a concerned citizen, emphasized the need for barriers: "There are iron nets in many areas to prevent garbage from being thrown into the drains.

Similarly, if nets are installed where needed, garbage will not end up in the river, and the municipal corporation should consider this. Currently, there is a large amount of trash along the riverbanks, and controlling it will help keep the river clean."

Sandeep Kadam, Deputy Commissioner of Solid Waste Management, stated, “After the floods, a large amount of garbage is ending up in the riverbed. While efforts are being made to remove it, measures are also being taken to prevent further dumping of trash into the river.”