Pune Municipal Corporation Initiates Groundwater Conservation Efforts Amidst Urbanization
Pune, 11th September 2023: As Pune grapples with escalating water demands driven by rapid urbanization, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is redirecting its attention towards groundwater conservation. PMC has unveiled plans to conduct comprehensive surveys of water bodies and implement groundwater recharging strategies within PMC gardens to combat the burgeoning water supply challenges.
PMC has taken a significant step by establishing a dedicated groundwater cell to oversee and coordinate these conservation initiatives. Adequate funds have been allocated to facilitate conservation efforts at selected gardens and ponds located across the city.
Mangesh Dighe, PMC’s Environment Officer, emphasized the critical need for sustainable water management in the face of mounting urbanization pressures. He commented, “Increasing urbanization is placing an enormous strain on our city’s resources. We are committed to tackling this challenge head-on by focusing on sustainable water management. Groundwater is crucial to the city’s water supply and must be conserved.”
The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) has allocated Rs 20 lakh to support PMC’s groundwater conservation projects. PMC has identified several gardens, including GP Pradhan Garden, Kalmadi Udyan, Shahid Hemant Karkare Udyan, Ghorpade Garden, Late Jaisingrao Sasane Garden, and Shivarkar Udyan, as key sites for groundwater recharge.
“In our pilot project, we are initially focusing on three gardens: Ghorpade Garden, Late Jaisingrao Sasane Garden, and Shivarkar Udyan. An estimated Rs 80 lakh will be spent to recharge groundwater at these sites,” revealed Ashok Ghorpade, Chief Superintendent Engineer of the garden department.
In addition to garden-focused initiatives, PMC will embark on projects to enhance groundwater levels in ponds located in Harantale, Uruli Devachi, Dhayari, and Uttamnagar. These collaborative efforts with selected gardens aim to boost groundwater levels in bore wells situated within the garden premises.
As Pune’s urban footprint continues to expand, the importance of sustainable water management becomes increasingly evident. The newfound emphasis on groundwater conservation represents a forward-looking approach to address the city’s ever-growing water demands and secure its water supply for the future.
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