Pune: More than three lakh pilgrims will gather in Dehugaon ahead of Ashadhi Wari, the pilgrimage which will embark for Pandharpur on June 25 from Dehu. However, if the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s (MPCB) recent report is considered, the Indrayani river is no more safe for a holy dip. A few days ago, Sakal Times published a report on June 11 stating that thousands of fish had died in Indrayani river pointing out the dangerous level of water pollution.
Madhukar More, President of Sant Tukaram Maharaj Sansthan, Dehu told Sakal Times that the temple trust has already communicated to the Dehugaon Grampanchayat to clean the river so that the pilgrims will be able to perform their holy activities by the river. “The pollution in Indrayani river is increasing year after year. We have advised pilgrims against taking a dip in the river,” More said. He further added that the warkaris or pilgrims will start to assemble in Dehugaon from June 22 and upon arriving in the town they prefer to take a dip in the river.
The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) has released a report on Tuesday stating that since untreated sewage is released directly in the river, the oxygen level has depleted and hence thousands of fish died.
On the other hand, Sarpanch of the Dehugaon Gram Panchayat, Jyoti Tilekar said that the river is not polluted due to industrial or domestic pollution. Tilekar said, “The river is safe for the warkaris to take a holy dip.”
However, Tilekar admitted that since there is no Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) in Dehugaon and the untreated sewage is released into the river daily. “Since there is no STP for Dehugaon, the sewage generated by warkaris will be also left untreated into the river,” Tilekar added
Regional Officer of MPCB Dilip Khedkar told Sakal Times that, apart from domestic pollution there is no chemical or industrial pollution in Indrayani river. “Daily 10 lakh litres (million litres per day or ML/d ) of untreated sewage is released directly into the river causing the oxygen level to deplete and killing the thousands of fish,” Khedkar said.
“The river water is not safe for humans as well because it is polluted,” Khedkar further added.
Sakal Times contacted the Dindi Pramukh (President) who takes part in Ashadhi Wari or pilgrimage to Pandharpur to know their reaction about the pollution of Indrayani river.
Another Dindi Pramukh 56, Mahadev Shinde, from Yevati Village in Risod taluka in Washim district, said, “I have informed all warkaris under my Dindi to not take the holy dip in the river as the water is polluted and it will pollute more if warkaris bathe in the river. Instead, we will bathe under the tap water.”
Dindi Pramukh 106, Vithoba Kullal, from Ajispur village of Lonar taluka, Buldhana district, said, “Indrayani is holy river just like Ganga. We have informed Alandi Municipal Council and Dehu Gram Panchayat to clean the river, but the issue has not been solved.”
