Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is considering utilising water from Jambhulwadi and Bhilarewadi lakes, located in the Katraj hill area, to cater to the needs in nearby regions that frequently face a shortage, especially in summer. As per an estimate prepared by civic officials, water from Jambhulwadi lake can be used for almost eight months after monsoon. “A comprehensive plan has been drawn up to set up a water purification plant, and a sewage treatment plant to prevent the release of untreated water into the lake. A proposal for the purification plant will be presented before the estimate committee,” an official from the water supply department said.The lake receives water from nearby hills and natural resources. “The administration will prepare further plans to lay pipelines for water distribution. We have already started constructing a sewage treatment plant as there have been several complaints about untreated water polluting the lake. We often carry out cleaning activities to remove hyacinth and weed,” another official said.People living near the lake said they have been demanding that PMC and the district administration take steps to use its water. “Initially, both authorities were reluctant to even clean the lake. It is good that PMC is thinking about utilising its water,” Amar Shinde, a local resident, said.For Bhilarewadi lake, the civic administration has decided to remove silt and also increase the height of its retaining wall to increase storage capacity. Officials said a pipeline has already been laid to fetch water for non-drinking purposes. “PMC is preparing a plan to augment water usage from the lake. We will conduct tests to find out what treatment its water will require to make it potable,” an official from the water supply department said.Parvati MLA and minister of state for urban development Madhuri Misal had asked PMC to explore various options, including a study, for sourching water from lakes and ponds in Katraj hill area so that the dependency on Khadakwasla dam could be reduced. He had said that as the city’s water requirements were up with increased population PMC needed to not only look for more water resources but also utilise the existing ones.
