Groundwater levels, in an alarming situation, have depleted to 400 feet and more in several pockets of the city, rendering existing borewells almost dry and making a deeper dig necessary for the new ones, borewell drilling firms and groundwater detectors.
“Barring the central Pune, that is the 5-10km area surrounding Shivajinagar, groundwater is on the verge of exhaustion,” said Ramesh Gaike, owner of a firm involved in rainwater harvesting and groundwater surveys.
Water Crisis Escalates in Pune as Groundwater Levels Plummet
Pune, a city emblematic of rapid urbanisation, finds itself grappling with an escalating water crisis as groundwater levels plunge to alarming depths, signalling a looming environmental concern. Across several suburban areas encompassing Yerawada, Lohegaon, Wagholi, and beyond, groundwater reservoirs have receded to depths as profound as 450 feet, with some regions reporting even more dire circumstances where groundwater remains elusive up to depths of 700 feet. This unsettling reality underscores a pervasive reliance on groundwater reservoirs, exacerbated by unchecked construction activities and a glaring lack of sustainable water management practices. According to experts, nearly 90% of societies in affected localities have eschewed manual borewell recharge mechanisms such as rainwater harvesting, exacerbating the strain on already depleted groundwater resources.
Shilpa Mahajani, proprietor of a borewell drilling firm, attests to the distressing trend, noting a significant escalation in drilling depths across various suburbs including Vimannagar, Lohegaon, Kondhwa, and Undri. Once viable water sources at depths of 100-150 feet now necessitate drilling depths exceeding 200 feet, an ominous testament to the rapid depletion of groundwater reserves. In essence, Pune’s groundwater depletion saga underscores the imperative for comprehensive water management strategies, including stringent regulations on construction practices, incentivising rainwater harvesting initiatives, and augmenting water conservation efforts to safeguard the city’s ecological equilibrium for generations to come.
