Pune: Finally, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has woken up to the fact of the depleting groundwater levels and joined hands with activists to conserve water. Announcing the ‘Jalyukta Shahar’, a water conservation project, PMC conducted a workshop with experts and activists working in the field of conservation of water. The workshop was recently held at PMC, which was attended by Mayor Mukta Tilak, Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao and Environment Department head Mangesh Dighe.
The convenor of Mission Groundwater, Ravindra Sinha, told Sakal Times, “We have been having a dialogue with the PMC from last two years over the increase in rainwater harvesting programme. Finally, the PMC took the decision and announced ‘Jalyukta Shahar’, a water conservation project last month.”
“The movement was slowly getting bigger as the PMC has taken the initiative and organised a workshop on groundwater sustainability and management on Thursday. It is a big step the PMC has taken and we will give our full support to them,” Sinha added.
Mayor Mukta Tilak said, “Since depleting groundwater has become a major concern, we have started with ‘Jalyukta Shahar’, a water conservation project under which rainwater harvesting systems will be installed at civic buildings and underneath concrete roads running across the city. Also for the groundwater cell, a committee will be formed with the help of experts and public participation along with the officials of the corporation and soon it will be launched.”
Saurabh Rao said, “PMC has been providing 13.5 TMC water for the citizens of the city for the whole year. But now due to growing urbanisation, the demand too was increasing and thus this water was inadequate. Therefore, we have to depend on groundwater. Hence, steps to increase the groundwater table should be the prime focus.”
While presenting the facts about groundwater, Deshpande said, “About 36 per cent of subsurface water gets evaporated and, therefore, percolation of water into the ground is important. Also these days, groundwater is getting contaminated and steps to control it should be taken. If percolation of rainwater is managed properly, then around three to four TMC of water can be available from the groundwater.”
Dr. Himashu Kulkarni said, “By and large, people along with policymakers tend to ignore, therefore it is important to bring this issue to the policymakers. Since we have been doing the mapping of aquifers of city, PMC can make it effective by providing the mapping for the benefit of people, like public water supply, management of aquifers and recharge and mainstream groundwater management as apart of public service. And urban water management should be done hand in hand as not only science but public participation and support from the government authority is also important.”
