Pune: Hinjewadi residents, who depend on the Mula River for drinking water, have raised concerns over the large-scale dumping of construction debris and obstructions near the Hinjewadi–Wakad bridge. They claimed the situation has affected water quality and triggered serious pollution concerns.Residents explained that water from the Mula River is treated before being supplied and serves as a key drinking water source for multiple housing societies in the area, making any contamination a significant public health risk.Anirudha Karandikar, a resident of Blue Ridge township in Hinjewadi, said debris generated during bridge construction on NH-48 has significantly obstructed the river’s flow. “The bridge contractor has dumped a huge amount of debris in the riverbed, almost blocking the river. Only a small passage has been left on one side, causing the water to back up,” he said.He added that the reduced flow has led to stagnation and the accumulation of pollutants. “This has created sewage-like conditions, with large quantities of water hyacinth building up,” Karandikar said.Residents approached the irrigation department, following which action was initiated.“We raised the issue with the irrigation department. A notice was issued to the contractor to clear the debris and restore the river flow,” he added.Himanshu Chadha, another Blue Ridge resident, said, “The contractor working on the bridge in Wakad had completely blocked the river by dumping debris into it. We first noticed this in Jan and had it cleared, but the dumping happened again. When the water becomes stagnant, it starts to smell. This is a serious issue because the Mula River is the only source of drinking water for thousands of residents here.”He added that while the township draws water from the river and treats it through proper filtration and water treatment plants, contamination at the source affects the entire system.“People start facing issues like foul smell and health problems. Irrigation department officials are currently on-site supervising the clean-up. However, this should not have happened in the first place. Additionally, ropes have been installed in the river to stop hyacinth from entering the PCMC side, which is worsening the situation by trapping polluted water on our side,” he said.Apart from Blue Ridge, several villages around the area and townships in Hinjewadi also depend on the Mula River for water, informed Mayur Bhutada, an irrigation department official.“The contractor appointed for constructing the bridge began work without obtaining the required permissions from the irrigation department. Initially, small amounts of debris were dumped, but gradually, the entire river flow was blocked. This caused water to back up, leading to stagnation, the growth of water hyacinth, mosquito breeding, and health concerns among residents. We had issued notices earlier and warned that such actions could attract penalties under environmental laws,” Bhutada said.He added that the contractor has now begun removing the debris, and work has been underway for the past several days under supervision.“A significant portion has already been cleared, and the remaining debris will be removed soon. However, another issue is the installation of hyacinth barriers in the river, reportedly by PCMC, without permission. These barriers are obstructing the natural flow and worsening conditions upstream. We have asked for their removal as well and are following due process to ensure compliance,” Bhutada said.
