Experts term civic body decision to dig 720 bore wells expensive and warn that it could disturb city's water table

PMC's bore well initiative draws flak

Experts term civic body decision to dig 720 bore wells expensive and warn that it could disturb city's water table

Water experts say the PMC's decision to dig 720 bore wells in the city to tide the water shortage in summer is not only a waste of money but is also a move that will deplete the city's groundwater reserves.

Jyoti Panse, Director, Comprehensive Water Management Solution, a NGO working for water conservation in the city, said Pune's groundwater levels face a serious threat from the PMC's initiative. "It is true that Pune has an ample stock of underground water. However, If the PMC is digging borewells on such a big scale without working out a strategy to renew and replenish underground water stocks, we may get into trouble in the future. As it is we are on a hot seat as far as water is concerned. We don't have enough water and Pune's population is growing. We need to work hard on improving our water reserves," said Panse.

Expert says
Water expert Vijay Paranjpe, the director of the NGO Gomukh, said the PMC should take great care to ensure there is a rational distribution of borewells in the city. "It is not clear why the PMC is constructing borewells across Pune when it is only the hilly neighbourhoods that are facing water scarcity. The civic body should also ensure that citizens are informed that drinking borewell water is not good for health," said Paranjpe.

Pramod Nirbhawane, divisional engineer, Water Supply, PMC, said water was available at just 50 feet in most places in Pune.u00a0 "Kondhawa, Kharadi, Dhanori and Katraj get water on alternate days, and some neighbourhoods like Kondhawa and Mithanagar do not get enough because they are at high altitudes. The bore wells will especially provide relief to citizens living in hilly areas of the city," explained Nirbhawane.

The Groundwater Surveys and Development Agency (GSDA) recently submitted its report of a quality and quantity survey of groundwater survey of Pune to the PMC. GSDA director Vikas Kharge says the survey would help the civic body to work out initiatives for sustaining groundwater and manage water resources effectively.

"The survey supports the idea of identifying more drinking water resources within city limits," Kharge said.