PCMC razes Pavana bund to get rid of mosquitoes

Suburban areas of Pimpri Chinchwad like Sangvi, Pimple Saudagar, Pimple Nilekh will now be free of mosquito menace.

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has demolished the old bund (bandara) located on Pavana river which had made the river a mosquito breeding spot.

Due to the heavy amount of pollution in the river, garbage would get stuck at the old bund. Besides, the bund would also obstruct flow of sewage released in the river from different parts of the city. This created an ideal condition for growth of water hyacinth and breeding of mosquitoes. Hence, suburban areas along the river were suffering menace.

Local residents had demanded that the civic body find out a permanent solution to the problem. And, local corporators on several occasions had urged that the bund is removed.

Medical health officer at PCMC’s drainage department VL Chavan said, “The doors of the bund were permanently shut as it was disfunctional. Hence, water and garbage would accumulate on the banks of the river near Pimple Saudagar and Pimple Gurav,”

“After the monsoons, especially in December and January, water weeds grow on the stagnant water and mosquito menace would reach its peak in the months of April and May.” he added.

The environment department of PCMC has also proposed to demolish other bunds built on Pavana river near Pudumjee mills in Thergaon.

Officials of PCMC and irrigation department had recently visited seven bunds built on the Pavana river. These bunds were built to irrigate fields on the banks, but there are no fields around anymore, hence, the PCMC has decided to demolish most of these bunds.