Dead fish found in Indrayani river at Alandi, chemical effluent blamed

Large numbers of dead fish have been found in the Indrayani river at the pilgrimage town of Alandi, once again raising the question of rising pollution in the river. Piles of dead fish were seen on both banks of the river, north and south of the Alandi Municipal Council's water supply centre, sparking anger among Warkaris, devotees and local residents.

Large numbers of dead fish were found in the area stretching from the Sathwan dam to the Chimbali dam in Alandi. People allege that sewage and chemical-mixed water from areas under the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) is being released directly into the Indrayani river without treatment. This has endangered aquatic life in the river, and demands are growing for a permanent solution to this problem, which recurs every year.

It has also been alleged that the concerned local self-government bodies and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board are not paying attention to the pollution of the Indrayani river. Against the backdrop of the pilgrimage town's development, the rising pollution of the sacred Indrayani river is a serious matter, and there are demands for an immediate investigation into the sewage and chemical-mixed water being released into the river, and action against those responsible.

The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha has demanded steps to immediately stop the pollution of the Indrayani river, and action and criminal cases against those responsible for causing the river pollution. A memorandum on the matter was submitted to the Pune district collector, the Pune divisional commissioner, the Pune regional office of the Pollution Control Board, the commissioner of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and the commissioner of PMRDA. The Mahasabha's national president Vaibhavraj Raundal and the president of its Pune district religious cell, Arjun Medankar, drew the administration's attention to the issue through the memorandum.

During the inspection, it emerged that a large number of dead fish were found in the Indrayani river. Office-bearers of the Mahasabha claim that on inspecting the river area from Pundalik temple to Dudulgaon bridge, dead fish were found at several spots. Such fish deaths occur in the Indrayani river every year, and it is alleged that this is happening because of chemical-mixed water entering the river. They have demanded that the administration take the matter seriously and find a permanent solution. The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha has warned that if this does not happen, Warkaris, devotees and local residents will launch an intense agitation.