Save Autadewadi Lake : Undri residents raise an alarm to save man made lakes from becoming a dumping spot
Pune city has been blessed with excellent water resources. But even after knowing the fact many man made lakes (pazar talavs) now included in Pune city limits have not been maintained properly by the Pune Municipal Corporation as well as district administration. Undri, one of the latest villages in PMC has a man made lake next to Godrej Prana and Tata Inora society, Undri. But, in the last few years this lake has become a dumping spot and is seeing encroachment. Spread across 10 acres of area, this can be an excellent source of water to the nearby societies who are facing acute water shortage.
The lake is located in Survey number 41-49.
Speaking to Pune Pulse, Dinesh Somwanshi, a local resident stated that every year we see the lake filled to its capacity during monsoon. By December end the water capacity starts going down. But if PMC takes up the work of de-silting it and removing the debris dumped here in the lake, the depth of the water body can be increased allowing more water to percolate in the ground. If not for drinking purposes, it can be used for increasing the ground water level in a scientific manner.
He said, “I had written a letter to the PMC in April 2022 asking them to allow the residents to conduct plantations but there has been no intimation yet to us. It’s been a year. This stream goes down to Pisoli and then towards Undri – Mohammadwadi.”
When Pune Pulse spoke to the environment officer, Pune Municipal Corporation, Mangesh Dighe, he informed, “Such lakes, water bodies have not been handed over to us yet. But I shall still take an update regarding the same. Conducting plantation activity on such lakes would be a great idea. But deep study of the catchment area, its upstream, downstream, its flowing capacity, its strength, all these aspects must be first studied. We have been receiving unexpected rains with heavy downpour so all these factors are important to understand and then hold activities to conduct plantations.”
Somwanshi stated that we have suggested that plantation activity conducted under the State government’s Pandan Yojana where in the desilting can be conducted. Also, putting up boards alerting to keep the lake clean must be installed.
