Pune, 27 August 2025: The National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Western Zone has ordered the formation of a special committee to investigate growing pollution in the Pavana River, after the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) blamed each other for the contamination.
The committee will be headed by Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi and will include officials from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB). Members will conduct inspections after the monsoon to trace the exact sources of pollution and prepare a detailed report.
During the hearing, ZP claimed that wastewater is being treated properly and does not flow into the river. PMRDA, however, alleged that untreated sewage is still being released into the river through drains falling under ZP’s jurisdiction. With both sides presenting conflicting versions, the NGT decided to appoint a neutral body to ensure a fair investigation.
Applicant advocate Krunnal Ghare welcomed the tribunal’s decision and said that citizen inputs and ground-level checks will be crucial in fixing responsibility. He also noted that the CPCB has already listed the Pawana among the most polluted rivers in the country.
The NGT has fixed December 1, 2025, for the next hearing and directed that all stakeholders be informed in advance of the committee’s inspection visits. The findings are expected to form the basis for strict action against those responsible.