The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has announced the launch of weekly clean-up drives along the Mula-Mutha river as part of the River Festival initiative. Municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram stated that these drives aim to target the most polluted areas of the city, encouraging community involvement from citizens, students, and NGOs. Mayor Manjusha Nagpure emphasized the necessity of a complete ban on plastic usage in Pune, arguing that partial restrictions have been ineffective. She highlighted the importance of citizen participation in civic programs and called for a shift towards sustainable practices. Nagpure also raised concerns about the low effectiveness of existing sewage treatment plants and advocated for localized waste processing solutions. Ram acknowledged that while the PMC employs around 4,000 sanitation workers, the city's population of nearly 8 million requires a collective effort to manage waste responsibly. He urged citizens to adopt sustainable habits, drawing comparisons to waste management practices in countries like Japan and South Korea. The success of the River Festival initiative will depend on public participation and consistent action to bring about visible improvements in the river's condition.