Pune's ₹842 Crore Plan to Clean Mula-Mutha River

The Maharashtra government has approved a ₹842.85 crore project proposed by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) to upgrade nine sewage treatment plants (STPs) under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme. The initiative aims to significantly reduce pollution in the Mula-Mutha river by modernizing Pune's wastewater infrastructure.

The project will adopt Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) technology to meet the latest Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards—bringing Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels below 10 mg/L and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) below 50 mg/L. As part of the plan, two aging STPs at Bhairoba and Tanajiwadi will be demolished and rebuilt, while the remaining plants will undergo technology upgrades.

Funding for the project includes:

₹252.86 crore from the Union government, ₹210.71 crore from the Maharashtra government, ₹20.49 crore from PMC

₹358.79 crore from private partners under a PPP model

Pune currently operates a 2,200 km sewerage network, treating 477 million litres per day (MLD). With additional capacity of 396 MLD being added through JICA-funded projects by 2027, the city is preparing to meet the sewage needs of a projected population of 1.1 crore by 2047, targeting a total capacity of 1,450 MLD.

The project also includes provisions for biogas generation and wastewater reuse, supporting Pune’s broader goals for sustainable urban infrastructure and resource efficiency.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.