Mula-Mutha River

{{Short description|River in India}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}

{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Mutha

| native_name =

| native_name_lang =

| name_other =

| name_etymology =

| image = New-Yerwada-Bridge-Over-Mula-Mutha.jpg

| image_size =

| image_caption = New Yerawada Bridge over the Mula-Mutha River

| map =

| map_size =

| map_caption =

| pushpin_map =

| pushpin_map_size =

| pushpin_map_caption=

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = India

| subdivision_type2 = State

| subdivision_name2 = Maharashtra

| subdivision_type3 = Region

| subdivision_name3 = Deccan Plateau

| subdivision_type4 = District

| subdivision_name4 = Pune

| subdivision_type5 = City

| subdivision_name5 = Pune

| length =

| width_min =

| width_avg =

| width_max =

| depth_min =

| depth_avg =

| depth_max =

| discharge1_location=

| discharge1_min =

| discharge1_avg =

| discharge1_max =

| source1 =

| source1_location = Pune City, confluence of Mula & Mutha, Pune, Sangamwadi, Pune city

| source1_coordinates= {{coord|18|34|23|N|73|49|54|E|display=inline}}

| source1_elevation =

| mouth = Bhima River

| mouth_location = Pune District, Maharashtra, India

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|18|33|39|N|74|20|40|E|display=inline,title}}

| mouth_elevation =

| progression =

| river_system =

| basin_size =

| tributaries_left = Mula

| tributaries_right = Mutha

| custom_label =

| custom_data =

| extra =

}}

The Mula-Mutha is a river in India, formed by the confluence of the Mula and Mutha rivers in the city of Pune, Maharashtra state, which later flows into the Bhima River, which itself is a tributary of the Krishna River and finally empties into the Bay of Bengal.{{cite book|title=GAZETTEERS OF BOMBAY jSTATE - POONA|url=https://cultural.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/Poona/PART%20I/Chap(1)/River%20Systems.htm |access-date=7 July 2014|publisher=Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Government of Maharashtra|chapter=RIVER SYSTEMS }}

The river flows through the village of Kavadi in the Pune district, witnesses many migratory birds. However, increase in pollution in the recent years has resulted in a reduction in the number of birds.{{cite news|title=How river pollution is robbing Kavadi of birds |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/How-river-pollution-is-robbing-Kavadi-of-birds/articleshow/7079541.cms |first=Neha |last=Madaan|date=11 December 2010 |newspaper=Times of India |location=Pune |access-date=11 July 2014}} Pollution from effluents released into the river at Pune has been found to cause high levels of pollution in the Bhima River, the reservoir of Ujani dam and Krishna River, too, resulting in many water-borne ailments.{{cite news|title=Ujani dam is full of toxins, finds survey |url=http://www.punemirror.in/pune/civic/Ujani-dam-is-full-of-toxins-finds-survey/articleshow/36403388.cms |first=Mayuri |last=Phadnis |date=12 June 2014 |newspaper=Pune Mirror |location=Pune |access-date=11 July 2014}}

Due to high levels of pollution, including 125 MLD of untreated sewerage water being discharged into the river by the Pune Municipal Corporation, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has classified the water quality to be of Class-IV.{{Cite web|title=MAJOR SOURCES OF POLLUTION in PUNE|url=http://mpcb.gov.in/relatedtopics/CHAPTER5.pdf|publisher=Maharashtra Pollution Control Board|access-date=9 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304003519/http://mpcb.gov.in/relatedtopics/CHAPTER5.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} The Pune Municipal Corporation announced plans to clean up and restore the river by pumping in oxygen on the lines of restoration efforts undertaken in Mumbai for the Mithi River.{{cite news|title=Mula, Mutha ecosystem to be cleaned up on the lines of Mithi |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/mula-mutha-ecosystem-to-be-cleaned-up-on-the-lines-of-mithi/648082/ |first=Nisha |last=Nambiar |date=18 July 2010 |newspaper=Indian Express |location=Pune |access-date=11 July 2014}}

In 2011, it was reported that several Japanese businessmen were keen on offering support to a plan initiated by the Mahratta Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture and supported by the Pune Municipal Corporation to clean up and beautify the Mula-Mutha river.{{cite news|title=Japanese offer to help restore Mula-Mutha river in Pune |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-japanese-offer-to-help-restore-mula-mutha-river-in-pune-1511434 |date=22 February 2011 |work=Daily News and Analysis|location=Mumbai |access-date=11 July 2014}} The same year, the Pune Municipal Corporation gave its approval to build a riverside road on the banks of the Mula-Mutha from Shivane to Kharadi, covering a distance of {{convert|22|km|mi}} to link several important roads in the city.{{cite news|title=Civic Panel approves riverside road project |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Civic-Panel-approves-riverside-road-project/articleshow/7577437.cms |date=26 February 2011 |newspaper=Times of India |location=Pune |access-date=11 July 2014}}

In 2014, the Pune Police discovered that marijuana plants were being grown on the riverbed near Kharadi.{{cite news|title=More cannabis growth found on Mula-Mutha river bed |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/more-cannabis-growth-found-on-mula-mutha-river-bed/ |date=2 March 2014 |newspaper=Indian Express|location=Pune|access-date=9 July 2014}}

In 2022, the Pune Municipal Corporation under the ruling party BJP has given its nod to spend over Rs5,500 crore on the improvement and beautification of the Mula-Mutha river in the coming years, in this two mega projects including development of the riverfront (total Rs4,000 crore) and rejuvenation of the river (total Rs1,500 crore) will take place.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/pune-news/pmc-to-spend-over-rs5-500-crore-on-mula-mutha-river-101645809558130.html|title=PMC to spend over Rs5,500 crore on Mula-Mutha river|date=25 February 2022}} According to RTI requests filed by Sarang Yadwadkar, an environmentalist, the project is laced with many irregularities and has been violating environmental norms.{{cite web|last=Goyal|first=Prateek|title=Modi chief architect’s Pune riverfront project faces scrutiny|website=Newslaundry|date=2022-08-29|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2022/08/29/modi-chief-architects-pune-riverfront-project-faces-scrutiny|access-date=2024-09-24}}