Pune: Katraj Lake’s Water Storage Capacity Boosted As PMC Completes Desilting Project
Katraj, 10th July 2023: Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has successfully carried out a comprehensive desilting operation at Katraj Lake in its ongoing efforts to combat silt accumulation. Over the course of the past month, the project, situated within Rajiv Gandhi Zoo, involved the removal of 10,000 cubic meters of sludge from the lake, significantly increasing its water storage capacity to an impressive 10 million liters.
Alongside the desilting endeavor, the PMC has taken proactive measures to address the issue of polluted water accumulation, which had been a persistent problem. A dedicated drainage line has been established to prevent the inflow of polluted water and effluent waste that previously contributed to the heavy deposition of silt.
The project was initiated by Additional Commissioner Kunal Khemnar, who promptly delegated responsibilities to the solid waste management department for the desilting process. “To maintain water quality standards, we installed two separate equipment units inside the lake, each with a capacity of two million liters per day. Heavy machinery and bulldozers were utilized to effectively remove the silt, resulting in a water capacity augmentation of one crore liters.”
To ensure consistent water levels, particularly during the monsoon season, an activated pumping station has been established and will be maintained by the electric department.
Although local residents have raised concerns about the PMC’s previous lack of attention towards regular maintenance and cleaning of the lake, which resulted in rampant garbage dumping and a mosquito problem in the area, social activist Mahesh Jankar remains optimistic about Katraj Lake’s future. “The recent desilting work has significantly increased the lake’s water capacity by at least ten million liters per day,” Jankar noted.
“While neglect led to garbage dumping and silt accumulation, the direct flow of sewage water into the lake has been stopped. We are hopeful that Katraj Lake will soon regain its former beauty and pristine character with these improvements.”
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