Pune’s long-delayed effort to strengthen sewage treatment infrastructure under the Mula-Mutha river restoration programme has received a crucial administrative breakthrough, with civic authorities resolving a land dispute that had stalled a key treatment facility in Aundh for nearly three years. The move is expected to accelerate pollution-control measures linked to one of Maharashtra’s largest urban river-cleaning projects and improve wastewater management capacity in rapidly urbanising neighbourhoods. The Pune Municipal Corporation has now secured approval for land allocation required to construct a 10 million litres per day sewage treatment plant inside the Botanical Garden area in Aundh. The project forms part of the larger Pollution Abatement of River Mula-Mutha programme being executed with financial and technical support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
The proposed facility had remained pending since 2023 because civic authorities did not have formal possession of the land parcel required for construction. Officials confirmed that the approval process for approximately 0.3 hectares has now been completed, along with the necessary working permissions, allowing implementation work to move forward. The stalled project had become a concern within Pune’s broader river restoration strategy, especially as untreated or partially treated sewage continues to remain one of the biggest contributors to deteriorating water quality in the Mula and Mutha rivers. Environmental planners have repeatedly warned that without expanding sewage treatment infrastructure, river rejuvenation efforts would remain incomplete despite investments in beautification, embankment works and urban mobility projects along river corridors.
Under the JICA-backed programme, the civic administration has planned 11 sewage treatment plants with a combined processing capacity of nearly 396 million litres per day. Construction activity is already progressing at 10 locations across the city. The Aundh facility was the only project facing prolonged delays due to land-related clearances. Urban infrastructure experts say the expansion of sewage treatment capacity has become critical as Pune witnesses continuous residential growth, commercial expansion and increasing pressure on civic utilities. Areas along the river basin have seen rapid construction activity over the last decade, intensifying the burden on ageing drainage and wastewater systems. The Mula-Mutha river network remains central to Pune’s ecological and urban future, influencing groundwater recharge, flood resilience and public health outcomes across multiple neighbourhoods. In recent years, concerns over sewage discharge, shrinking biodiversity and seasonal flooding have pushed authorities to prioritise river management within the city’s long-term development planning.
Civic officials indicated that resolving the pending land issue would help maintain implementation timelines under the externally funded programme, where delays can significantly affect project costs and environmental targets. Senior administrators are also expected to monitor execution more closely as Pune prepares for stricter pollution-control benchmarks under national urban sustainability and clean river initiatives. With the Aundh clearance now in place, the focus is likely to shift towards timely construction, operational efficiency and ensuring that treatment infrastructure keeps pace with the city’s expanding urban footprint rather than reacting to pollution after environmental damage has already occurred.
