Pune: The state govt has ordered an inspection of the sewage treatment plant (STP) operators two months after the suspension of PMC officials following a mass fish kill at Pashan Lake,The move follows a discussion in the state Legislative Council during the monsoon session regarding poor STP facilities and rising water pollution at the British-era lake. Replying to the query, state cabinet minister Uday Samant stated that while the STP is currently functional, the govt will scrutinise the management side of the operation.“The STP facility is effective and working; it was only closed for a few days for maintenance. No separate inquiry is required regarding its actual functioning,” Samant said. “However, we will carry out an inspection into the appointment of the contractor, the defect liability period, and other technical aspects of the contract.”The inquiry comes amid claims of inconsistency. MLC Uma Khapre pointed out that the administration has provided contradictory answers regarding the lake’s status. She noted that while pollution persists, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has claimed there is no available space for an additional STP near the lake.The pollution crisis peaked in April this year when a large-scale loss of aquatic life was reported at Pashan Lake. A preliminary investigation revealed that a 1-MLD water purification plant adjacent to the lake was malfunctioning, leading to the direct discharge of untreated sewage into the water.In the wake of the incident, the PMC administration suspended four officers—two from the drainage department and two from the solid waste management department—after a senior leadership team visited the site and confirmed the lapses.Built in 1867–68, Pashan Lake is a vital piece of Pune’s environmental heritage and a renowned site for ornithologists and bird watchers due to its migratory bird population. Environmental activists have long blamed the civic body for the massive accumulation of water hyacinth and the influx of untreated sewage. They argue these factors led to a drastic drop in dissolved oxygen levels, causing the recent ecological disaster.The PMC now claims the situation is under control. “The STP at Pashan is functioning properly and at maximum capacity. To handle the excess load, the administration has planned a pipeline to transport additional sewage to Baner,” said Vishal Haribhakta, a senior official in the PMC drainage department.Construction of the new pipeline is currently underway and is expected to be completed within a fortnight.
