Pune’s rainwater harvesting project at the foothills of Fergusson College (FC) is making waves a year after its launch. The initiative, aimed at tackling waterlogging issues caused by rainwater runoff, has shown promising results in enhancing groundwater levels in the area.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) kicked off the project in March 2023 by digging deep trenches near the FC foothills and filling them with natural purification materials like sand, brick, and stone. The main goal was to capture and manage water runoff from the hillsides, which had been causing waterlogging on FC Road, Jangli Maharaj (JM) Road, and Apte Road. This waterlogging often led to flooding in areas such as Deccan depot and around Bal Gandharva Rang Mandir.
Officials from the PMC have reported a decrease in flooding spots since the project’s initiation. Dinkar Gojare, a senior official from the PMC’s drainage department, has confirmed the system’s effectiveness, with plans for a long-term impact assessment in the works.
Anand Katikar from the Deccan Education Society (DES) noted the noticeable improvement in water percolation on the FC campus. The trenches are aiding in enhancing the recharge capacity for borewells, with the full impact of these improvements expected to become more evident in the future.
The trenching project is a collaborative effort between PMC’s road and drainage departments and a private agency that conducted crucial drainage surveys. Future plans include expanding the project to other flood-prone areas like FC Road, Canal Road, and Senapati Bapat (SB) Road.
Overall, the rainwater harvesting project at FC foothills is off to a great start, with hopes high for continued success in managing rainwater and improving groundwater levels in the area.
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