Indrayani River

The Indrayani river originates near Lonavla, a hill station on the Mumbai-Pune highway. Fed by rain, it flows east from there to meet the Bhima river, through the religious villages of Dehu and Alandi, and north of Pune.^[1]. It is revered as a holy river and is associated with such great religious figures such as Saint Tukaram.

There is a hydroelectric dam called Valvan Dam on the Indrayani at Kamshet.

The Save Indrayani Action Committee (SAC), comprising environment groups and warkaris, has decided to conduct a detailed study on the causes of pollution of the Indrayani river and support the local civic bodies take preventive measures with the help of the state government.They have a blog at ibks.blogspot and also formed groups on various community sites.

This river doesn't have any fishes however some NGO's are planning to breed fishes. Fishes were disappeared during 1984-85 due to water scare and pollution.

The action committee, which met at the temple town of Dehu on Thursday, decided to form different groups which will study the river from its origin near Lonavla to right up to where it joins the Bhima river.

Speaking to TOI, convenor of the action committee Vikas Patil said the study groups which consist of experts will document the reasons of pollution by clicking pictures, preparing short films and by collecting water samples. The study is expected to be completed by March next year. The report and the demands would then be submitted to the state government as also to government bodies, like the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation.

He admitted that local civic bodies such as the Lonavla Municipal Council, the Vadgaon Gram Panchayat, the Talegaon Dabhade Municipal Council and the Dehu Gram Panchayat do not have necessary facilities to treat domestic effluents which get released in the river directly. However, he added, the action committee would assist the civic bodies in setting up these essential facilities with the help of the state government.

"We are not going to agitate against the civic bodies, but will try to help them out by getting in the required funds. We also want to create public awareness regarding river pollution," he said.

Another study group would be examining geographical details of the river, its original width and the changes that have happened over time, he added.

While 19 environment groups attended the meeting on Thursday, he said more groups and citizens have expressed their desire to join in. According to Patil, the committee would also initiate a similar movement in relation to the pollution of the Pavna River, as well as the Mula and Mutha rivers. The committee would also take up issues regarding air pollution, he added.

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