Kolhapur Civic Action Committee threatens protest over delayed sewage project

Kolhapur: Kolhapur city and District Civic Action Committee has threatened to pour wastewater into the office of the KMC commissioner if the work on the sewage treatment project in the Tawde Hotel fails to start by Tuesday.

The activists have alleged that sewage mixed with chemicals, and remains of animals was being discharged directly into the Panchaganga River from the brick kiln drain (Veetbhatti nullah) in the Tawde Hotel area. A memorandum has been given to KMC commissioner and police inspector, Laxmipuri police station, warning about the agitation.

Ashok Powar, from city civic Action Committee, said, “The work of the sewage project started in Subhashnagar despite the opposition of the local citizens. But the same isn’t taking place at Brick Kiln near the Tawde Hotel area when there is no opposition. A large amount of water pollution of Panchaganga river is taking place due to the untreated sewage, garbage, slaughtered meat, animal remains and chemical water of industrial estates in the areas of Uchgaon, Temblaiwadi, Vikramnagar, Market Yard getting directly mixed into the Panchaganga river.”

The nearby lands have become barren and health problems in villages like Shiroli, Gandhinagar, Nigdewadi, and Waliwade, located on the banks of the Panchaganga river, have arisen.

Ramesh More, activist, said, “We raised this issue on March 16, 2026, through a written statement to KMC commissioner. However, even though two months had passed, the administration continues to stay lethargic. After Tuesday, May 19, foul-smelling sewage and animal remains will be thrown in KMC Commissioner’s office at any moment, and we won’t be responsible for this.”

Meanwhile, a KMC sanitation department official, on condition of anonymity, informed that KMC has given the work order but the concerned contractor has not commenced the work due to some technical reasons. The contractor will be asked to begin the work immediately.