Pune Metropolitan Authority to Launch ₹1,800 Crore Sewage Treatment Project as Reservoir Pollution Rises

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In response to rising pollution in reservoirs supplying water to Pune, the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has announced an ambitious ₹1,800 crore sewage treatment initiative. This project aims to curb untreated sewage discharge into rivers and protect vital drinking water sources, especially after a recent Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) outbreak linked to contaminated water from the Khadakwasla dam.

The PMRDA’s plan covers over 930 villages across the Pune metropolitan area, including Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. Currently, many localities lack adequate sewage treatment facilities, resulting in untreated sewage polluting the main reservoirs and river systems like the Mutha river.To tackle this, the project will be implemented in two phases:

Upstream Sewage Treatment: Focused on treating sewage generated upstream along rivers, including areas like Haveli, Bhor, Mulshi, and Maval talukas. Treating sewage here first is expected to quickly improve water quality for nearby localities, including Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.
Downstream Sewage Treatment: Planned for areas downstream of the rivers, with the detailed project report ready but implementation temporarily on hold pending the upstream work.

Yogesh Mhase, Metropolitan Commissioner of PMRDA, explained that while many urban localities have sewage networks, the absence of treatment plants leads to untreated sewage entering rivers and dams, worsening pollution.The Khadakwasla dam, Pune’s primary water source, has suffered pollution from upstream urbanisation, contributing to the GBS outbreak months ago. The civic authority had reported this to the state government. The outbreak mainly affected areas supplied directly from the dam, where no purification plant existed for newly merged city zones.

The issue of providing untreated water has been raised with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) by concerned citizens. Meanwhile, the Union government has approved funding for a new water treatment plant in Vadgaon Budruk on Sinhagad Road. Additionally, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has requested forest land near Khadakwasla dam to establish another treatment plant, aiming to supply treated and purified water to residents.This comprehensive sewage treatment project represents a major step toward safeguarding Pune’s water quality and public health.