Ramnadi

Last updated
Ramnadi
Ramnadi-at-Baner.jpg
The Ramnadi at Baner
Location
Country India
State Maharashtra
City Pune
Physical characteristics
Source Sahyadri Range
 • locationnear Kathpewadi
 • elevation957 m
Mouth Mula River
 • elevation
550 m
Length19.2 km
Basin size181.65 km2
Basin features
WaterbodiesKhatpewadi Lake, Pashan Lake, Manas lake

The Ramnadi is a river in Pune District and is a tributary of the Mula. It originates in the Sahyadris near Khatpewadi, north-west of Pune city. The river flows through the Bhugaon, Bhukum, Bavdhan, Pashan, Baner and Aundh areas of Pune city. It is defined as a brook by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

Contents

The width of the river channel has decreased due to illegal constructions and dumping of construction debris. These constructions are yet to be removed. Many rallies have been held to save the river. However, it has been turned into a sewage canal due to dumping of garbage on its banks. Many local residents are in fact unaware of the river's existence. [1] Due to the river's deteriorating condition, the PMC has undertaken a project to beautify this river. The proposal includes development of a garden along the banks of the river. [2]

The Pashan Lake and Manas lake are the major water bodies on the river basin.

Watershed

Khatpewadi Lake, the source of the Ramnadi Khatpewadi Lake.jpg
Khatpewadi Lake, the source of the Ramnadi

The river originates in the Western Ghats at an elevation of 957 m above sea level. It then flows in the north-west direction eventually merging with the Mula River at an elevation of 550 m. The villages Bhukum, Bhugaon and Pirangut along with the Bavdhan, Aundh, Pashan and Karvenagar suburbs of Pune lie in the Ramnadi watershed. [3] Major water bodies on the river basin are Pashan Lake and Manas lake both of which are man-made. [4]

The Jarseshwar Temple, Rameshwar Temple, Wakeshwar Temple, Someshwar Temple are historical temples located on the banks of the river. [5]

Flooding

History

Causes

Activists and experts believe the floods to be a result of decreased water carrying capacity of the river. [6] Encroachment and illegal constructions have decreased the width of the river channel and reduced its water carrying capacity. [4] These illegal constructions are yet to be removed. [8] The construction of a retaining wall along the river channel by the PMC has allowed for reclamation of land in the flood plain for construction activities. The lack of a proper flood line demarcation has further allowed for constructions in the flood plain. This has reduced the channel area by almost 15%. Construction debris and sewage deposition have obstructed the natural flow of the river. [4]

The Ramnadi is fed by around 416 streams out of which 106 no longer exist. Most of them have been destroyed as a result of construction and encroachment activities. This has destroyed the natural catchment area. [4] Together these factors have made the areas surrounding the river flood prone.

Restoration

Years of unchecked dumping of trash, as well as illegal encroachments on the banks of the river, has nearly destroyed its ecosystem. [9] Hence it has sparked several restoration projects led by environmental activists as well as concerned citizens over the years.

Ramnadi Restoration Mission

The Ramnadi Restoration Mission (RRM) is one of the biggest river restoration projects in Pune, [9] involving nearly 15,000 students from 38 colleges, 25 schools and 18 city-based environmental groups, local politicians and residents. [10] [11] It aims to restore the river to at least its state in 1949 (70 years prior). It official started on June 4, 2019. [9] The mission has youth at the heart of its efforts. “We believe that school children are the strongest catalyst between the RRM and the society. In our initiative, we have adopted 1.5 lakh students. When we teach them, they in turn educate their families about the cause.”, says Virēndra Citrav, coordinator of the mission. The 19.2 km long river has been divided into nine stretches of around 2 km each. Each stretch has been allotted to three local colleges, who will carry out the mission's 40-point program designed to form a bond between the students and the river. Activities include cleaning the water body, natural farming, workshops on film-making, and competitions like elocution, photography and painting. Students are encouraged to create artifacts from garbage retrieved during river cleanup. [11]

At the same time, environmental groups in the RRM address the more fundamental aspects of restoration. Phase 1 of the project involves the rejuvenation of Khatpewadi lake. Removal of silt from the water body will help increase its capacity, the silt will be used to reduce the gradient of its banks. Plantation of trees along the bank will also be done. Construction of artificial islands in the lake is also being considered to provide ample space for migratory birds to nest and rest. [9] Phase 1 is expected to span over a period of 3 years. [10] Initial restoration efforts part of Phase 1, resulted in a 25% increase in the water sustaining capacity of the Khatpewadi lake. [12] In February 2022, the RRM announced its plan to convert the lake into a lotus lake. [13] Led by Saṅjay Gurav, a fine arts teacher from Khāmgāv in Vidarbha, the efforts are expected to enhance the health of the water near the source of the Ramnadi.

Experts and environmentalist working with the Ramnadi Restoration Mission prepared a report titled "Ramnadi Flood Report" which analysed the unprecedented flooding of the river during the 2019 monsoon. Key points included loss of tree cover and encroachment by buildings and strongly emphasised the need for flood mapping. The report was submitted to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). [14] [15]

In June 2021, the PMC "agreed in principle" to set up a dedicated committee to streamline the restoration efforts of the RRM. PMC commissioner Vikram Kumar approved the demand to prepare an independent development plan for Ramnadi and invite the representatives of the NGOs to be part of the committee, with the mayor as the chairman. [16] The gram panchayats of Bhukum and Bhugaon have taken action to show their support for the efforts of the RRM - in April 2022, they issued notices to the PMC and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) to halt excavation work for a garbage collection facility that falls too close to Ramnadi's floodlines. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pune</span> City in Maharashtra, India

Pune, previously spelled in English as Poona, is a city in the state of Maharashtra in the Deccan plateau in Western India. It is the administrative headquarters of the Pune district, and of Pune division. According to the 2011 Census of India, Pune has 7.2 million residents in the metropolitan region, making it the seventh-most populous metropolitan area in India. The city of Pune is part of Pune Metropolitan Region. Pune is one of the largest IT hubs in India. It is also one of the most important automobile and manufacturing hubs of India. Pune is often referred to as the "Oxford of the East" because of its educational institutions. It has been ranked "the most liveable city in India" several times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pimpri-Chinchwad</span> City in Maharashtra, India

Pimpri-Chinchwad, also known as PCMC, is a city in the Indian state of Maharashtra. The city is about 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of the historic city of Pune, at an altitude of 590 m (1,940 ft) above sea level. It is the fifth largest city in Maharashtra and the nineteenth largest city in India and the sixteenth largest satellite city in the world by population. The city is located 135 km (84 mi) southeast from the state's capital Mumbai. It is one of the most rapidly developing suburban areas in India and has emerged as the third fastest growing city in the country. It is well known for its automotive, IT and manufacturing industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooum River</span> River in Tamil Nadu, India

The Cooum River, or simply Koovam, is one of the shortest classified rivers draining into the Bay of Bengal. This river is about 72 km (45 mi) in length, flowing 32 km (20 mi) in the city of Chennai and the rest in rural part. The river is highly polluted in the urban area (Chennai). Along with the Adyar River running parallel to the south and the Kosasthalaiyar River, the river trifurcates the city of Chennai and separates Northern Chennai from Central Chennai. It is also sometimes known as Thiruvallikenni river

The 2005 Maharashtra floods impacted many parts of the Indian state of Maharashtra including large areas of the metropolis Mumbai, a city located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, on the Western coast of India, in which approximately 1,094 people died. It occurred just one month after the June 2005 Gujarat floods. The term 26 July, is used to refer to the day when the city of Mumbai came to a standstill due to flooding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meenachil River</span> River in Kerala, India

The MeenachilRiver or Meenachilaar, also known as Kavanar, Valanjar, is a river in Kerala. It is one of the most treacherous rivers in Kerala due to its flash floods, heavy undercurrents and woods and debris it carries from the mountains. It flows through the heart of Kottayam district, Kerala state in southern India. 78 km long, originates in the Western Ghats main tributaries are Theekoy aaru from Vagamon hills, Poonjar Aaru and Chittar, flowing westward through the city of Kottayam and other towns like Poonjar, Teekoy, Erattupetta, Bharananganam, Pala, Mutholy, Cherpunkal, Kidangoor and Kumarakom before emptying into the Vembanad Lake on the shore of the Indian Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mula River (India)</span> River in India

The Mula is a river in Pune, in Maharashtra state of India. It is dammed near the Western Ghats at the Mulshi Dam that forms the Mulshi Lake. Further downstream, in Pune city, it merges with the Pawana River on the left bank and Mutha River on the right bank to form the Mula-Mutha river, which later meets the Bhima River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jyotisar</span> Hindu pilgrimage site in India

Jyotisar, on the bank of Jyotisar Sarovar wetland, is a Hindu pilgrimage site in the city of Kurukshetra in Haryana state of India. According to Hindu tradition, Krishna delivered the sermon of Bhagavad Gita – the doctrine of Karma and Dharma to his wavering friend Arjuna to guide him to resolve his ethical dilemma and revealed his vishvarupa to him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aundh, Pune</span> Suburb of Pune city in Maharashtra, India

Aundh is an upscale, affluent neighbourhood in the city of Pune, India. Since its inception in the mid-1990s, Aundh has developed significantly as a residential area with proximity to the University of Pune.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pashan</span> Neighbourhood in Pune District, Maharashtra, India

Pashan is suburb of Pune, India. It is located off the Mumbai-Bangalore national highway, by-passing Pune city. Pashan road serves as the main approach road for Mumbai-Pune expressway. Pashan is bordered by Baner in north, Sus on west, Bavdhan in south and Pune University in east. It was majorly developed by the D R Kulhalli Company. Pashan is mostly a residential suburb of Pune and large portions are occupied by various governmental and educational institutions. In October 2019, Pashan received more rainfall than the wettest place on Earth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pune Municipal Corporation</span> Local governing body of Pune

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is the civic body that governs the inner limits of Pune, India. It is in charge of the civic needs and infrastructure of the metropolis, which is spread over an area of 500 sq. km. and has 3.4 million residents. Established on 15 February 1950, the executive power of the PMC is vested in the Municipal Commissioner, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer appointed by the Government of Maharashtra. The position is held by Dr. Rajendra Bhosale, IAS.The general body of the PMC consists of 162 directly elected councilors, popularly known as "corporators", headed by a mayor. Murlidhar Mohol (BJP) was elected as the mayor and Sunita Wadekar as the deputy mayor by the newly elected in April 2021. The land for Pune Municipal Corporation was donated by Late Hon. Shri. Bhausaheb Shirole (Patil) who was second Mayor of Pune city and later became an MLC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pune Metro</span> Rapid transit in Pune

Pune Metro is a mass rapid transit system serving the city of Pune, India. The system comprises three lines with a combined length of 54.14 km (33.64 mi), of which 24.12 km (14.99 mi) on two lines are operational as of August 2024. The extended metro line from Ruby Hall Clinic to Ramwadi, including the Bund Garden, Kalyani Nagar and Ramwadi metro stations, covering a distance of 6 km, was inaugurated on 6 March 2024. The 16.59 km (10.31 mi) Purple Line from PCMC Bhavan to Swargate runs on an elevated viaduct between PCMC Bhavan to Range Hills, from where it goes underground. The Aqua Line runs from Vanaz to Ramwadi covering a distance of 14.66 km (9.11 mi) on an elevated viaduct. The 23.33 km (14.50 mi) elevated Line 3 Puneri Metro will run from the Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjawadi via Balewadi to Civil Court. All three lines will align at the District Court interchange station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balewadi</span> Suburb in Pune, Maharashtra, India

Balewadi is a residential suburban town of Pune, located in the city's Western Metropolitan Corridor. It is famous for the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex which had hosted both the National Games in 1994 and the 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games. The complex had also hosted the second edition of Khelo India Youth Games, which kicked off on 9 January 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adyar River</span> River in India

The Adyar River, which originates near the Chembarambakkam Lake in the Kanchipuram district, is one of the three rivers that winds through Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, and joins the Bay of Bengal at the Adyar estuary. The 42.5-kilometre (26.4 mi) long river contributes to the estuarine ecosystem of Chennai. Despite the high pollution levels, boating and fishing take place in this river. The river collects surplus water from about 200 tanks and lakes, small streams and the rainwater drains in the city, with a combined catchment area of 860 square kilometres (331 sq mi). Most of the waste from the city is drained into this river and the Cooum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baner</span> Western Suburb of Pune in Pune District, Maharashtra, India

Baner is a suburb in the Western Metropolitan Corridor of Pune, India. Baner is well known for "Varkari" Parampara and Bhakti Aradhana from many years. Baner is bordered by Pashan in south, Balewadi to the west, Aundh to the north and Pune University to the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baner-Pashan Biodiversity Park</span> Biodiversity Park in Maharashtra, India

The Baner-Pashan Biodiversity Park is a proposed 200 hectare protected region currently under development in the Baner and Pashan suburbs of Pune, India by the Pune Municipal Corporation. The park is being constructed to protect the biodiversity near and around the Baner Hill and its spur, the Pashan Hill.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wakad</span> Neighbourhood in Pune, Maharashtra, India

Wakad is a neighbourhood in the city of Pimpri-Chinchwad, India. Given its close proximity to Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park in Hinjawadi, Wakad has recently emerged to be a popular neighbourhood for techies and expats. It is very diverse and cosmopolitan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pallavaram Lake</span> Lake in India

Pallavaram Lake, also known as Periya aeri or Pallavaram aeri, is situated along Pallavaram Thuraipakkam Radial Road. It used to be a large lake, but it dried up and was polluted by industrial wastewater and garbage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pashan Lake</span>

Pashan Lake is an artificial lake near the suburb of Pashan, about 12 km from the city center of Pune, India. The lake was built in the British era to accommodate the water requirement of the neighbourhood. The main inlet of the lake is the Ramnadi river, which is even controlled by a barrage located to the north of the lake. The river originates from Bavdhan and flows via Pashan, Sutarwadi, Baner to Someshwarwadi before flowing into the main Mula river. Pashan lake has a total catchment area of 40 square kilometres (15 sq mi), and serves as a source of water to the old Pashan village, and the governor's residence, as well. Recent urbanisation around the lake has led to the fall in the quality of the water.

Suvarna Sahakari Bank was an Indian private urban co-operative bank based in Pune, Maharashtra, India, which operated from its incorporation on 22 September 1969 till its dissolution on 20 May 2009.

Neknampur Lake, also known as Ibrahim Bagh Cheruvu, located in Indian city of Hyderabad, was once part of a water reservoir network that was used for irrigation and providing drinking in the surrounding areas.

References

  1. ↑ "Pune: Campaign to restore Ramnadi, lake to be launched on June 4". The Indian Express. 1 June 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  2. ↑ "PMC to beautify Ramnadi". Times of India. November 1, 2003.
  3. ↑ Gabale 2016 , p. 152
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Gabale 2016 , pp. 101–108
  5. ↑ Vajpeyee, Gayatri (12 September 2023). "Now, a sustainable, holistic model for Ramnadi revival". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  6. 1 2 "Bavdhan, Ramnagar residents near Ramnadi to go on hunger strike to save". The Times of India. TNN. 24 April 2011. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  7. ↑ Nair, Manjula (6 August 2019). "Ramnadi overflows, 2,000 residents moved to safety from Vidhate Vasti". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ram Nadi: illegal constructions yet to be removed, say activists". The Indian Express. June 16, 2010.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Mission to save Ramnadi begins as thousands set to join hands". Times of India. June 5, 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.
  10. 1 2 "Pune: Citizens to join hands to revive Ramnadi". Times of India. March 15, 2019. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Kirloskar Vasundhara flags off student mission at Sant Tukaram School Pashan". Hindustan Times. 2022-08-24. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  12. ↑ "Water sustaining capacity at Khatpewadi up by 25%". The Times of India. TNN. Retrieved 22 December 2019.
  13. ↑ "Pune to get its first lotus lake at Khatpewadi". India Today. February 22, 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  14. ↑ "Ramnadi rejuvenation plan to include flood mapping of all existing streams, tributaries". Hindustan Times. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  15. ↑ "Reasons of river flooding identified". Sakal Times. 9 January 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  16. ↑ "PMC commissioner agrees to form committee for Ramnadi rejuvenation project". Hindustan Times. 2021-06-20. Retrieved 2021-11-28.
  17. ↑ "PMC, MPCB get notices for building garbage depot along Ram Nadi flood lines". Hindustan Times. 2022-04-23. Retrieved 2022-04-26.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.