Pune, April 11 (NationPress) Maharashtra's Environment Minister, Pankaja Munde, emphasized the need for ecological integrity and thorough pollution management in river beautification initiatives during a meeting held on Saturday. This meeting focused on the Mula-Mutha River Pollution Control Project, part of the National River Conservation Plan.

Attendees included Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, Additional Commissioner Pavneet Kaur, Mayor Manjusha Nagpure, members of the Standing Committee, and various departmental heads.

Minister Munde pointed out a significant flaw in the existing infrastructure, mentioning that many industries have established Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), which often fall into disrepair due to inadequate maintenance.

"The Municipal Corporation must guarantee that all operational sewage treatment plants in Pune function at full efficiency. There should be no complaints regarding their operational status," asserted the Minister.

During the discussion, several strategic measures were proposed to improve the city's environmental infrastructure. Minister Munde expressed intentions to acquire land from the Agriculture Department for the STP project located at the Botanical Garden in Aundh. Additionally, a new policy for rural sewage treatment will be formulated after evaluating various districts and departments.

“Plans are also in motion to keep the headquarters of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) in Pune instead of transferring it to Baramati. Essential funding will be allocated to accelerate and finalize all outstanding projects within the city,” the minister stated.

Pune Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram offered an in-depth presentation about the current sanitation infrastructure. The discussion included the total sewage generated versus the current processing capacity within municipal boundaries, as well as the financial status and implementation challenges facing ongoing projects.

He also updated the Minister on significant sewage treatment facilities, including Warje, Vadgaon, Mundhwa, Hadapsar, Kharadi, Dhanori, Baner, Tanajiwadi, and Bhairoba.

Minister Munde ended the meeting with a strong commitment to revamping Pune’s riverfront through sustainable and pollution-free methodologies.

Previously, Minister Munde announced that the state government is nearing completion in establishing a dedicated River Rejuvenation Authority, shifting the primary focus from river beautification to stringent pollution control measures.

This authority will be responsible for mitigating increasing water pollution and ensuring the rigorous implementation of environmental policies. The Minister made these remarks during a high-level review meeting at the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA).