PUNE: As lakhs of devotees were expected to arrive at Alandi Devachi for the Bhagwat Ekadashi falling on Saturday, the local administration seems to be unprepared to welcome them as the sewage along the river bed and unclean river has irked the devotees. 

The devotees, who come from across Maharashtra take a holy dip in Indrayani river. But over the years, the water has been polluted due to unchecked sewage water release in the river, complained the devotees.

The sewage discharged from the Pimpri municipal area has polluted the river as well as the holy dip at Alandi.

The devotees complained that the disinterest shown by the civic administration to clean the river forced the devotees to take the holy dip in polluted waters. 

This year there has been enough rainfall, which led to flowing of heavy water in Indrayani water basin.

But sewage released has polluted the river and the surrounding areas of Swami Ghat, Dnyaneshwari temple and 

Bageshwari temple. Likewise, the river has been unclean and massive sewage can be seen on the sides of the river.

It was expected that the municipal administration would release water from Andra Valley dam but even after repeated meetings held between Alandi municipality and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation administration, the water was not released from the Andra Valley dam.

Sameer Bhumkar, Chief Officer, Alandi Municipality, said, “The Irrigation Department has already been informed to release water from the Andra Valley dam but we need to confirm it.”