PUNE: In bid to save the natural springs in Bavdhan supplying water to Ramnadi, Sailendra Patel, an activist from Jal Devta Seva Abhiyaan, has written letters to concerned persons right from the Municipal Commissioner to the Chief Minister in 2017 to save these springs and not allow any construction along the river. However, he has not got any response. Following this, he will be launching a signature campaign by asking 1,000 people, including activists, NGOs and concerned citizens to sign the petition and again submit it to the bureaucrats.
Patel said, “We are fighting to save Ramnadi in Bavdhan. Earlier, there were 140 natural springs and 40 to 50 rivulets. However, there are only 12 natural springs and 8-10 rivulets now. I want to save these natural springs, which have been vanishing due to the rapidly increasing construction and farming in Bavdhan. No one really cared about these springs. We want the government to declare them as heritage sites so that they cannot be destroyed for any reason.”
He said, “Recently, a small natural spring, which feeds 70 litres of water per minute into Ramnadi, was identified. We are trying our best to protect it.”
“In May 2017, I had written to Mayor Mukta Tilak, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, District Collector Naval Kishore Ram and the ground water survey department and the then civic chief Kunal Kumar about the issue. Acknowledging the receipt of my letter, she messaged me saying that a meeting with her would be scheduled. Also, the Chief Minister forwarded the letter to the urban development department but there was no response from there as well. Again on October 2017 and May 2018, letters were sent to all these government agencies, mentioning the condition of the natural spring and to highlight such areas and preserve them because they are a source of river water,” said Patel.
He said, “Now, I am left with only one option and that is to get signatures of environment activists, NGOs, concerned citizens to pressurise the government so that it could preserve the natural springs.” When contacted, Tilak said, “I am unaware of this issue. I have to take a look at the letter that Patel had sent me.”
