Pune seeks one-year extension for river project completion

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has asked the central government for a one-year extension on its River Rejuvenation Project. This project is supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The municipal commissioner submitted this request as the project is not yet complete. The goal of the River Rejuvenation Project is to treat sewage from the city before it enters the Mula-Mutha river. This will improve water quality and make it suitable for agricultural use. Municipal commissioner Rajendra Bhosale stated that they have made 70% progress, but need more time to finish. The initial deadline for the project was March 2025. The PMC now hopes to complete it by March 2026. Currently, Pune uses 1,750 million liters of water daily and generates 1,450 million liters of sewage. The project includes the construction of 11 new sewage treatment plants (STPs) alongside nine existing ones. The total budget for this project is ₹1,000 crore. Although it was approved in 2016, work began later than expected. Construction is ongoing on 10 of the new STPs, while work on one near the Botanical Garden has not yet started. Additionally, the PMC is planning to lay 50 kilometers of new drainage lines under this project.