Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde announces task force to tackle pollution in rivers

Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde on Monday announced in the state legislative council that a task force will be set up to tackle pollution in rivers reported news agency PTIThe state environment and climate change minister said the task force will involve collaboration between the environment the urban development and rural development departments to ensure better implementation of pollution control measuresMunde made the announcement while responding to BJP legislator Uma Khapares calling attention motion in the Upper House reported PTIIt is true that 55 rivers in Maharashtra were found to be polluted primarily due to untreated sewage from urban areas being released into the water bodies Munde said reported PTIShe said her department plans to establish a task force that will coordinate with various departments for the effective implementation of pollution control measuresMunde pointed out that while industries are not allowed to release untreated waste into rivers 29 municipal corporations in Maharashtra generate vast amounts of untreated sewage contributing significantly to the problem reported PTIShe also emphasised the need to engage staterun plants in the governments pollution control effortsThe biochemical oxygen demand BOD level is a key indicator of river pollution In 2018 nine rivers in Maharashtra recorded BOD levels above 30 mg per litre which is considered extremely serious However the number of rivers has now come down to three the minister informed the Council reported PTIShe said Maharashtra currently has 155 operational sewage treatment plants STPs with 16 new plants recently added while 20 plants are under construction and more than 30 are in the planning stage reported PTIThe state must enhance the capacity of sewage treatment plants she addedClean Maharashtrarsquos polluted rivers demands MLC Satyajeet TambeTo restore Maharashtras polluted rivers MLC Satyajeet Tambe proposed a largescale river cleanup initiative across the state Tambe spoke at the Budget session of the Legislative Council on MondayTambe stated the initiative can be executed on the lines of and in collaboration with lsquoThe Ocean Cleanuprsquo the worlds largest river restoration and cleanup organization Speaking in the Legislative Council Tambe emphasised that Maharashtrarsquos ongoing river restoration efforts through lsquoThe Bharat River Foundationrsquo would be significantly enhanced with the guidance and expertise of The Ocean CleanupThe state is blessed with 55 rivers but there is an urgent need to restore most of the rivers across Maharashtra Additionally the next Kumbh Mela is scheduled in 2027 slated to be held in Nashik The government should take concrete measures to clean the Godavari River along with its banks and tributaries before the Mela Tambe saidWith inputs from PTI