Page 98 - Sugam Sarita

temperature, oxygen available to living aquatic organisms, and

restorative concentrations. However, studies on these animals
continue to be limited due to the ordinances of specific experimental
procedures, laboratory infrastructure, and classifying organism
techniques.

There is a terrible crisis in relation to the Mula-Mutha river. What was
once a means of survival for the city has been reduced to a home for all
kinds of waste. The logistic support functions of the river are crucially
reduced as it passes through Pune. Pune Municipal Corporation has

devised a plan to revive the river, the plan is in consultation with
environmentalists and citizen partnership is in execution today.

The Mutha river is burdened with so much waste that with the
exception of flooding, the water is almost entirely raw waste. The

area of the intersection of the two rivers is practically choked with
decaying organic matter, with bubbles of methane (CH⁴) and other
gases becoming active at the surface The Mutha river, when flowing
downstream from Vitthalwadi is akin to an open canal. This then

pollutes the Mula river at confluence. In many places, there are
thick bodies of Tubificid Worms which cause intestinal disorders
in fish or sometimes food poisoning in cattle and humans .“Blood
Worms” (Chironomidae Larvae) is also observed which causes severe

stomach related diseases . Tremendous populations of these animals
are pointers of sewage pollution. At many places near Khadakwasla
Dam, however, both above and below the actual dam areas, the water
is clear and supposedly uncontaminated.

Water Hyacinth is a type of free-floating tropical American plant
now found in water bodies across the globe. These intrusive species
prevent the sunlight reaching at the level of oxygen in water systems,

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