News

TOI : PUNE: Warkaris (pilgrims) of the temple towns of Dehu and Alandi are now focusing their attention on the pollution of river Indrayani.

They have threatened to launch an agitation against the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation if the civic body fails to take proper measures to curb pollution.

The warkaris as well as various office-bearers of the temple trusts, non governmental organisations (NGOs) and others have together formed the Indrayani Bachao Kruti Samiti (save Indrayani action committee). The committee headed by warkari leader Bapu More will discuss and plan counter measures to reduce river pollution.

More and members of the committee said that the municipal corporation was not taking adequate measures to reduce pollution. He said that the river was getting polluted due to discharge of industrial effluents from units which are mostly located in the Chikhli-Kudalwadi area. “Most of these industries are small scale enterprises which deal in scrap and tool-making and have no facilities to treat effluents,” he said.

More said that the committee will conduct another meeting on Thursday in Dehu to decide further course of action.

The committee is also planning to issue a deadline to the municipal corporation to curb pollution. If preventive steps are not taken, the warkaris will undertake a “bhajan” agitation at the municipal corporation, the committee members said.

However, the civic officials said that the temple towns, which incidentally are not in the municipal corporation limits, themselves need to take proper measures for reducing pollution. Bathing, washing of clothes and vehicles and direct release of sewage from these areas are major causes of river pollution, the officials said. Print Emai…More