Pune, 11 April 2026: A major environmental lapse at Pashan Lake has led to strict action by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), after hundreds of dead fish were found floating in the water.
Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram ordered the suspension of four civic staff members, citing serious negligence in maintaining sewage treatment plants.
The suspended officials include executive engineer Ajaykumar Vayase, junior engineer Atul Kumar Kadu, and sanitary inspectors Vinayak Chopde and Vijay Bhoir. Action was taken by senior officials including Prajit Nayar and Santosh Warule. Additionally, chief engineer Jagdish Khanore has been issued a show-cause notice for his role in the lapse.
The incident came to light after local residents reported a foul smell and a large number of dead fish along the lake’s edges. A subsequent inspection revealed that a sewage treatment plant (STP) near the lake was not functioning, allowing untreated sewage to flow directly into the water body.
Commissioner Ram stated that during the inspection, officials found the STP was non-operational despite regular payments being made to the agency responsible for its maintenance. He said the situation showed clear negligence, and strict action was necessary to protect the environment and public health.
Preliminary findings also suggest that pollution from nearby industrial units may have worsened the water quality. The civic body has begun parallel investigations into these units while directing additional commissioner Pavneet Kaur to conduct a detailed inquiry into the STP operations. A notice has also been issued to the consultant responsible for sewage treatment.
The PMC has sought a report from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) regarding the functioning of effluent treatment plants of factories in the area. Further action will depend on both the MPCB findings and the internal investigation.
Environmental experts have long warned about untreated sewage inflow into Pashan Lake and declining water quality. This latest incident has once again highlighted gaps in monitoring, infrastructure maintenance, and accountability within the city’s civic system.