Maharashtra Forms State Authority To Restore 54 Polluted Rivers
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Mantralaya.
Mumbai: On the lines of the Centre’s National River Conservation Plan, the Maharashtra government on Wednesday approved the creation of the Maharashtra State River Rejuvenation Authority (MSRRA), a unified body to restore polluted rivers, curb contamination and manage river basins. A rejuvenation programme will be implemented for 54 polluted river stretches across the state, which is the highest among the Indian states. The government is expected to spend around Rs 2,000 crore on it.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Mantralaya.
According to a Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) 2025 report, Maharashtra has the highest number of polluted river stretches in the country — 54 out of 296. These include the critically polluted Mithi in Mumbai, Kalu in Thane and Mula-Mutha in Pune.
A senior official said multiple departments — urban development, industries, rural development and water resources — had been working independently, resulting in “fragmented planning, funding and execution”. The MSRRA will bring all related functions under one umbrella and adopt a river-basin approach.
The new authority will be chaired by the Chief Minister, with the Environment and Climate Change Minister as Vice-Chairperson. The Finance, Urban Development, Water Resources, Industries, and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Ministers will be members, while the Environment Secretary will serve as Member-Secretary.
The framework also includes a State Executive Committee (SEC) and a Secretariat. The SEC will oversee implementation, monitor projects and issue directions to executing agencies, while the Secretariat will handle scientific analysis, DPR validation, monitoring and compliance.
The MSRRA will prioritise the revival of the 54 polluted stretches in phases. It will recommend integrated policies on sewage and industrial wastewater management, riverbank demarcation to prevent encroachments, and measures to improve public awareness.
The Cabinet also approved raising Rs 2,000 crore through the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) for the MSRRA, along with a government contribution of Rs 100 crore. Additionally, 10 per cent of revenue from sand and minor mineral extraction will be allocated annually to the authority.
The finance department had opposed this citing weak linkage to the polluter-pays principle, but the environment department argued that extraction causes direct ecological damage to rivers. “Considering the environmental harm from sand and minor mineral removal, 10 per cent of this revenue must be made available to the MSRRA,” a senior official said.
Officials added that the MPCB has already collected approximately Rs 4,500 crore in fines and penalties from polluters, and that this is the first time these funds will be deployed specifically for river-cleaning efforts.