INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,
MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)
ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XIV, Issue XII, December 2025
A Multi-Parametric Assessment of Infrastructure, Policy, and
Economic Barriers in Pune’s Wastewater Management
Dr. Saylee Jog*, Dr. Surabhi Jaju**
* Assistant Professor, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune
** Director, Rustic Art, Satara
Received: 28 December 2025; Accepted: 02 January 2026; Published: 12 January 2026
ABSTRACT
This paper examines Pune’s evolving municipal wastewater management framework as a model for sustainable
urban development policy in rapidly urbanising Indian cities. Through a comprehensive analysis of infrastructure
expansion, technological innovation, and regulatory frameworks, we assess the effectiveness of decentralised
treatment strategies in addressing urban environmental challenges. Our study reveals that despite significant
infrastructure investments totalling ₹1,173 crore under the JICA-funded Project for Pollution Abatement of River
Mula-Mutha (PARMM), Pune continues to face a 503 MLD daily treatment gap, with only 49% of generated
sewage receiving treatment. Using a multi-parametric policy assessment, integrating performance data from 11
sewage treatment plants, policy documents, and environmental monitoring reports, the research finds that while
technological diversification demonstrates promise, persistent funding delays, land acquisition disputes, and the
"subsidy barrier" in water pricing threaten environmental sustainability outcomes. The research contributes to
sustainable urban development literature by demonstrating how policy integration, technology choice,
institutional coordination, and financial sustainability mechanisms determine wastewater management
effectiveness.
Keywords: Urban Wastewater Policy, Decentralised Treatment, Circular Economy, Infrastructure Financing,
Pune Municipal Corporation, JICA.
INTRODUCTION
Rapid urbanisation in the Global South has fundamentally outpaced the development of sanitary infrastructure,
creating a severe public health and environmental crisis. In India, the challenge is acute; according to the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Class I and Class II cities generate over 72,000 Million Litres per Day (MLD)
of sewage, yet only 30% is treated. As cities expand, the traditional linear approach to water management - take,
use, discharge - has proven ecologically unsustainable and economically inefficient.
This paper investigates the transition toward integrated water management systems, using Pune, a major IT and
industrial hub in Maharashtra, as a representative case study. Pune’s context is critical due to its geographic
placement upstream of the Bhima River basin, where local discharge directly impacts downstream water security
for the Ujani Dam reservoir. The city currently generates approximately 1,000 to 1,200 MLD of sewage, yet the
installed and operational treatment capacity lags significantly.
The objective of this research is to identify the policy and implementation barriers that prevent the closure of
this gap. We move beyond simple capacity statistics to examine the institutional frictions - specifically between
funding bodies, municipal execution, and regulatory oversight - that hinder the realisation of 100% treatment
targets. Furthermore, we analyse the economic viability of "circular economy" proposals in a market where
freshwater remains heavily subsidised.
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