Pune’s Ramnadi Revival: Kirloskar Vasundhara And Rotary District 3131 Join Hands For A Sustainable Future

Pune, 12th September 2023: In a concerted effort to rejuvenate the Ramnadi flowing through the Baner area, Kirloskar Vasundhara and Rotary District 3131 have unveiled a collaborative initiative set to span the next five years. The announcement came during a press conference held on Monday, attended by key figures spearheading the project.

Manju Phadke, District Governor of Rotary District 3131, R. R. Deshpande, President of Kirloskar Vasundhara, and Virendra Chitrav, organizer of the Kirloskar Vasundhara festival, addressed the media on this occasion. Also present were Anand Chitale of ‘VPKPL,’ Dr. Gurudas Noolkar, Curator of Kirloskar Vasundhara, as well as Santosh Pardeshi, Rajendra Kumar Saraf, and Keshav Tamhankar.

The comprehensive campaign, grounded in principles of water literacy, water culture, water society, and water parliament, seeks to breathe new life into the Ramnadi. Several organizations, including Vasundhara Swachhta Abhiyan, Ecological Society,Jeevitnadi, Biospheres, Sagarmitra, Bhujal Abhiyan, Jaldevata Seva Abhiyan, Paradkar Foundation, Kirloskar Oil Engines, Kirloskar Pneumatic, and Kirloskar Chillers, have thrown their support behind this ambitious endeavor.

Key objectives of the campaign include:

1. Studying the Ramnadi basin and devising a comprehensive plan for its revitalization.
2. Raising awareness about the river among all stakeholders and actively involving them in the mission to revive it.
3. Promoting a sustainable, eco-friendly, and toxin-free lifestyle among residents within the river basin.
4. Restoring the river’s health and the livelihoods dependent on it through a blend of public participation and technology.
5. Facilitating activities that foster an environment-centric culture, literacy, and the formation of groups and parliaments.

The Kirloskar Vasundhara Ramnadi revival campaign commenced four years ago with the noble objective of addressing the plight of the 19.2-kilometer-long Ramnadi, largely unknown to Pune residents. This revitalization effort has seen active participation from 12 environmental organizations, 33 colleges, 25 schools located along the riverbanks, employees from three Kirloskar companies, numerous environmental experts, and strong support from the media.

Virendra Chitrav, Convenor of the Kirloskar Vasundhara Festival, expressed optimism about the ongoing efforts, stating, “With the collaboration of these diverse stakeholders, we are making significant progress in the revival of the Ramnadi, transforming it into a thriving natural asset for our community.”