Pune Municipal Corporation team cleans up Mula river

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has intensified its drive to clean the Mula river of the rapidly proliferating water hyacinth.

On Monday, malaria surveillance inspector Govind Satpute and his team were spotted cleaning the Mula river, which is covered hyacinth, after successfully cleaning Pashan lake.

Satpute, who has been undertaking this activity for the last eight years, said removing the weed is important to prevent illnesses spread by mosquitoes as water hyacinth is the best place for them to breed. 

“The work of cleaning the river started in October and we have been cleaning the river periodically,’’ said team supervisor, Vasant Motkar.

Pashan lake was cleaned of the weed last week and now the team is working to clean the stretch of the Mula river stretching from Khadki to Balewadi.

The team would also spray chemicals on the river to prevent mosquitoes breeding. “Disinfectants would pose health hazards to birds and animals that drink water from the river,” he added.