@navalMH This very HCMTR if turned into a non-elevated tram ring can become the biggest blessing to Pune. Flyovers are super-hard to maintain forever, you don't have the finances. They create ugliness, drop real estate value, spike air/noise pollution. I seek a 30-min chat, Commissioner.
@navalMH
Forget environment, it is not good economics to do HCMTR. Study the hell unleashed by outdated Corbusier-bhakt planners across the world.
Yes, BRT was a mistake. It should always have been trams. They don't even need roads, they cut across campuses, they harvest rain.
@navalMH@navalMH Trams are the feeders to metro that you need. They have been electric and smoke-free in India for 100+ years. Look at the massive network of Dadar TT (Tram Terminus) - CST that Mumbai wrongly uprooted in 1964 instead of modernizing to 21st century European standards.
@navalMH@navalMH
Please know that flyovers do not serve 90 percent of population. The elderly, the kids, the disabled, the non-car owners, etc. Make Pune vishwaguru, introduce trams.
https://t.co/ICtdRVc1cw
Justice Oka - one of the most enlightened of the recent justices says -
1. Citizens filing environmental PILs take immense risks, yet are targeted by political and religious class, labelled anti national
2. Judges targeted for passing strong env orders
https://t.co/N2aFxN1orE
KP, Boat Club Road residents raise alarm over rise in water level, blame riverfront development work for flooding https://t.co/GnhhurMphR via @timesofindia
𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐨𝐚𝐤 𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐬: 𝐀 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝
In an innovative effort to promote sustainable urban water management, 𝑺𝒖𝒉𝒓𝒅 𝑱𝒐𝒔𝒉𝒊 recently engaged with officials from the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) along KP North Main Road. His proposal? A simple yet effective solution: 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙬𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙤𝙖𝙠 𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙜𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡. This approach not only promises to conserve water but also leverages existing infrastructure, keeping storm drain pipes intact while enhancing the local ecosystem.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲: Watering Trees with Tankers
Across many urban areas, including Pune, municipal authorities rely on water tankers to keep roadside trees alive, especially during dry seasons. While it ensures trees receive water, it comes with significant drawbacks. The use of tankers is resource-intensive, requiring fuel, manpower, and large volumes of water—often sourced from the city’s already strained supply. Moreover, this approach does little to address the broader issue of groundwater depletion or stormwater management, both pressing concerns in a city like Pune, which faces seasonal water scarcity despite heavy monsoon rains.
Suhrud Joshi, an alert citizen for practical environmental solutions, saw an opportunity to rethink this system. His interaction with PMC officials aimed to highlight a smarter, greener alternative that could reduce dependency on external water sources while making the most of natural rainfall.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗮𝗸 𝗣𝗶𝘁𝘀
Joshi’s proposal centers on the creation of rainwater soak pits—shallow, underground structures designed to collect and infiltrate rainwater into the soil. Positioned strategically at every storm drain hatch grill along Road, these pits would capture runoff during the monsoon season, allowing it to percolate into the ground rather than being lost to the drainage system. This stored water would then sustain the trees’ root systems naturally, reducing or even eliminating the need for tanker based irrigation.
The beauty of this idea lies in its simplicity and compatibility with existing infrastructure. The storm drain hatch grills and pipes already in place along the road can remain intact, serving their primary function of managing excess water during heavy rains. By integrating soak pits into this setup, the system becomes dual-purpose: it prevents flooding while simultaneously recharging groundwater and nourishing trees.
𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗜𝘁 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀
A typical rainwater soak pit is constructed by digging a pit near the base of a tree, lining it with permeable materials like gravel or sand, and connecting it to the storm drain hatch grill via a small channel or pipe. During rainfall, water flows from the road surface into the drain, where some of it is diverted into the soak pit. The pit acts as a reservoir, holding the water long enough for it to seep into the surrounding soil. This process not only keeps the tree roots hydrated but also replenishes the local water table—a critical benefit in a city grappling with over-extracted groundwater reserves.
𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: By harnessing rainwater instead of relying on municipal water supplies or tankers, the soak pit system reduces the strain on Pune’s water resources.
𝗖𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆: Eliminating the need for water trucks cuts down on fuel, maintenance, and labor costs for the PMC, freeing up funds for other civic projects.
𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲: The infiltration of rainwater into the soil helps replenish aquifers, addressing a key environmental challenge in urban areas.
𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆: Trees receive a consistent, natural water supply, promoting healthier growth without artificial intervention.
𝗙𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: By absorbing excess runoff, soak pits reduce the burden on storm drains, helping to prevent waterlogging during heavy rains—a frequent issue in Pune.
𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
While the concept is promising, implementation would require careful planning. Soil permeability along the road must be assessed to ensure effective infiltration, and the pits would need periodic maintenance to prevent clogging from debris or sediment. Additionally, coordination between PMC departments—such as drainage, road maintenance, and tree care—would be essential to execute the project smoothly. Joshi emphasized the need for a pilot phase, where a few soak pits could be installed and monitored before scaling up.
𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Suhrd Joshi’s advocacy for rainwater soak pits reflects a growing awareness of the need for sustainable urban solutions. Pune, like many Indian cities, faces the dual challenge of managing monsoon floods and ensuring year-round water availability. By educating PMC officials about this alternative, Joshi is pushing for a shift from reactive measures—like tanker water to trees—to proactive, nature-based strategies that work with the local environment.
If adopted, this initiative could set a precedent for other roads and neighborhoods in Pune, aligning with the city’s broader goals of water conservation and resilience. It’s a small step with the potential for a big impact, proving that innovative thinking and existing infrastructure can go hand in hand to create a greener, more sustainable urban future.
𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻
The conversation between Suhrd Joshi and PMC officials on KP North Main Road is more than just a discussion about tree watering—it’s a call to rethink how cities manage their natural resources. Rainwater soak pits offer a practical, low-cost way to nurture urban greenery while addressing water scarcity and flooding in one go. As Pune continues to grow, ideas like these could pave the way for a more sustainable and water-secure tomorrow. The question now is whether the PMC will take up the challenge and turn this vision into reality.
#pune #rainwater #harvesting #SoakPits
@DrRajBhosale@MAHA_UDD@MahaDGIPR@AUThackeray@AjitPawarSpeaks@supriya_sule@PuneRivers@PKarve_Samuchit@AngadPatwardhan@ameetgsingh@RupeshKesekar@RohanAaron1@navipeth@Meghnarbhandari@pulse_pune@ChaitanyaKet@eeshwari_jedhe@vandymini@mhemachari@jbaphna@each1save2@RajaSubramani22@ifc_sumbal@cwprspune@Bhujal_Abhiyan@VetalTekdi
Experts highlight need for better road design in city to prevent speeding https://t.co/bkCU2Aq67f via @timesofindia
My views on the Porsche case got published.
Pune, a city once known for its cool summers, is now facing scorching temperatures even after rainfall
Koregaon Park topped the charts with a scorching 43.2 degrees Celsius on Tuesday
https://t.co/U0NqAhvx68