Parliament Question: Pollution of Mula–Mutha river

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1495 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.02.2026 Pollution of Mula–Mutha river 1495. DR. MEDHA VISHRAM KULKARNI: Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state: (a) whether Government is aware of reports highlighting severe pollution of Mula–Mutha river in Pune due to untreated sewage discharge, low dissolved oxygen and presence of heavy metals; (b) the progress achieved under Central schemes for sewage treatment, river rejuvenation and pollution monitoring in Pune; and (c) whether Government proposes special funding, stricter monitoring or inter-ministerial coordination to restore the ecological health of the river while safeguarding floodplains and biodiversity? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH) (a) to (b): The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in collaboration with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs), and Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) in Union Territories has established a National Water Quality Monitoring Network (NWMP) in order to regularly assess status of water quality of water resources to facilitate prevention and control of pollution in water bodies. The CPCB has identified polluted river stretches based on the water quality data for rivers with respect to Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) parameter. BOD concentration exceeding 3 mg/l is identified as polluted stretches. The PRS are classified under Priority Class I to V, Priority I being most polluted with BOD value of more than 30 mg/l and Priority V least polluted with BOD ranging between 3 – 6 mg/l. Polluted River Stretches in Mula Mutha River was identified by CPCB during 2018 and 2025. In 2025, under NWMP, Mula-Mutha river in Pune District was monitored at the two locations namely at Mundhawa Bridge, village- Mundhawa, Taluka- Haweli, and down stream of Theur, village, Theur, taluka. Haweli. Data from outcome of monitoring indicates that Mula-Mutha river is non-complying with Primary Water Quality Criteria for Bathing Waters notified by MoEF&CC on 25.09.2000, due to low levels of dissolved oxygen and high levels of BOD at both the locations.Regarding, heavy metals, it is found that iron concentration exceedance observed at both the locations and lead concentration exceedance observed at location namely “River Mula-Mutha at d/s of Theur, village. Theur, taluka”. Water quality data of River Mula-Mutha monitored under NWMP during 2024 is placed as Annexure I. PRS on Mula-Mutha river State Name Polluted River Stretch/ Location Priority Class Maharashtra Polluted River Stretches identified during year 2025 River Mula-Mutha from Mundhawa Bridge to d/s of Theur, II Pune For rejuvenation of polluted river stretches identified by CPCB including the polluted stretch of Mula-Mutha river, action plans were prepared by River Rejuvenation Committee (RRC) constituted by the respective State Government/ UT Administration, under the overall supervision and coordination of Principal Secretary, Environment of the concerned State /Union Territory for bringing all the polluted river stretches identified by CPCB fit for bathing purposes. The progress of implementation of action plans are reviewed by the RRC at State Level and Central Monitoring Committee (CMC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Jal Shakti at Central Level. (c): As Water and Sanitation being the State subjects, Government of India supplements the efforts of the States through schematic interventions/ advisories. It provides financial and technical support to the States through various schemes/ Missions such as Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) and AMRUT 2.0. Under AMRUT, Maharashtra State has taken up one sewerage/septage management project worth Rs. 147.84 crore in Pune district, which has created 32 MLD sewage treatment plant capacity. Under AMRUT 2.0 so far, 04 sewerage/septage management projects worth Rs. 1,454.53 Crore and 03 water body rejuvenation projects worth Rs. 645.31 Crore have been approved in Pune District. Approved projects cover 243 MLD sewage treatment plant capacity. Further, MPCB reported that they have done flood plain marking for Mula-Mutha River. Under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP), a pollution abatement project for the Mula–Mutha River in Pune has been sanctioned at a cost of ₹990.26 crore. The project envisages the establishment of 11 STPs with a combined treatment capacity of 396 MLD, along with the laying of a 53.5 km sewer network. ****Annexure I Water Quality data of River Mula-Mutha monitored under NWMP-2024 Fecal Fecal Dissolved BOD STN pH Coliform Streptococci Monitoring Location O2 (mg/L) (mg/L) Code (MPN/100ml) (MPN/100ml) Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Min Max Compliance Status Primary Water Quality Criteria 2500 500 for Bathing Waters notified by ≥ 5 6.5-8.5 ≤ 3 (Maximum (Maximum MoEF&CC dated 25.09.2000 Permissible) Permissible) RIVER MULA-MUTHA AT MUNDHAWA BRIDGE,VILLAGE- 2192 1.8 4.6 7.3 7.9 10.2 22 58 350 5.6 40 Non-Complying MUNDHAWA,TALUKA- HAWELI,DISTRICT- PUNE. RIVER MULA-MUTHA AT D/S OF THEUR, 2677 VILLAGE. THEUR, 2.6 5.2 7.5 7.9 3 18.4 33 350 4 22 Non-Complying TALUKA. HAWELI, DISTRICT. PUNE.Water Quality Data of Metals of River Mula-Mutha Monitored Under NWMP-2024 Chromium Monito Arsenic Cadmium Copper Lead Nickel Zinc Mercury Iron STN Total ring (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) (mg/L) Cod (mg/L) Locatio e Ma Ma Mi Ma M n Min Max Min Max Min Min Max Min Max Min Min Max Min x x n x ax BIS IS 10500 : Complia 2012 Drinking nce Water - Status Specification (Permissible 0.05 0.003 1.5 0.01 0.05 0.02 15 0.001 0.3 limit in the absence of alternate source) RIVER MULA - MUTH A AT MUND HAWA Non- 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.4 2192 BRID 0.17 Complyi 049 049 042 042 035 2 031 031 056 056 054 2 4 8 052 052 3 GE,VI ng LLAG E- MUND HAWA ,TALU KA-HAWE LI,DIS TRICT - PUNE. RIVER MULA - MUTH A AT D/S OF THEU R, VILLA 0.0 Non- 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.0 0.0 0.00 0.00 0.4 2677 GE. 0.01 0.05 00 0.26 Complyi 049 049 042 042 5 031 056 056 054 3 3 052 052 5 THEU 54 ng R, TALU KA. HAWE LI, DISTR ICT. PUNE.