PMC Faces Heat Over Hyacinth Burning: Environmental Concerns Rise in Pune

Pune, 4th March 2024: The responsibility of removing the hyacinth from the riverbed, transporting it, and disposing of it outside the city lies with the contractor. However, a recent revelation indicates that after harvesting hyacinth at Rajaram Bridge, it is being openly burned without transportation, leading to increased pollution and causing issues for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

The unchecked growth of aquatic plants in Mula-Mutha rivers and lakes, fueled by untreated sewage flowing directly into the water bodies, is contributing to the proliferation of mosquitoes, affecting the local population. The PMC annually conducts a tender process, involving substantial amounts, to remove aquatic plants from various locations, including Mula-Mutha River, Pashan Lake, Jambhulwadi Lake, and Katraj Lake. These tenders often face disputes due to political interference favoring specific contractors, and variations in tender terms and conditions to limit competition.

This year, PMC issued a tender worth Rs 1 crore 20 lakhs for the removal of aquatic plants from the river. The contractor is tasked with using machines to extract water leaves, transport them, and dispose of them appropriately. However, concerns have arisen as it has been discovered that the PMC administration is not adequately overseeing the contractor’s work, potentially leading to inefficiencies in the process. Addressing these issues and ensuring proper execution of the contract is crucial to mitigating environmental and public health concerns.

Aquatic plants flowing from the Khadakwasla Dam are being captured by netting at Rajaram Bridge, where machines and manpower are employed to remove the plants from the river. Following this, the contractor is obligated to transport and dispose of the dried aquatic plants. However, it has come to attention that the contractor has neglected this responsibility, resulting in the dumping of dried water leaves along the riverbanks, with the burning process currently underway.

This open burning of aquatic plants under Rajaram Bridge, which has been ongoing for the past week, includes the burning of plastic, clothes, and other waste materials, emitting a foul smell. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) typically takes punitive actions against citizens for open burning, given that it is prohibited. However, in this case, the burning is happening at the water body.

After the removal of aquatic plants from rivers and lakes, the disposal is supposed to take place in Sus and Mhalunge areas by the contractor responsible. The PMC pays Rs.1300 for each dumper round for this service. Yet, the recent revelation indicates that the aquatic plants are being burned directly without transportation.

Dilip Pavara, Deputy Engineer from the PMC Environment Department, stated, “If water leaves are being burned at Rajaram Pool without being transported, we will investigate and take further action. The concerned contractor must adhere to the terms of the tender, including the proper disposal of the aquatic plants removed from the Mula-Mutha River.”