Study of impact of urbanisation on water, agriculture and pisciculture in Pune district of Maharashtra
Student name: Mr Syed Mahmood Alam
Guide: Ms Fawzia Tarannum
Year of completion: 2017
Host Organisation: Tata Power Company Ltd., Mumbai
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Vivek Vishwasrao
Abstract: Water is the back-bone of life. It is such a prime resource that often it can be taken for granted. Water is very
important for both the urban and the rural areas but the complexity is felt to be more with the urban since population
pressures are much higher here. The study on the impacts of urbanisation on water, agriculture and pisciculture in
Pune district of Maharashtra was hence taken up as a project work.
Earlier, people had to travel miles or maintain water bodies nearby in order to ensure water security but since it has
come in the taps of households we are left with no regard for water. In Pune, there is an endemic fresh water fish,
Mahseer which is listed in the endangered category of the IUCN, simply because the river systems have been
polluted as regions are developing rapidly. The agricultural expansion has led to the use of pesticides and
insecticides for better crop but indirectly the discharge from the fields goes into the river. Some industrial units
discharge effluents without treating it to desired limits and hence pollute the river. The Mula-Mutha and Indrayani
Rivers have been studied at certain locations to analyse the water quality of the area. The water from such river
systems then are not fit for consumption if they do not satisfy the guidelines. Here it can be noted that the policies
are in place but strict implementation and planned infrastructure will ensure a developed region in the true sense.
To tackle the problem of waste and ensure that it acts as a resource for another, Aquaponics, which is combination
of aquaculture and hydroponics along with similar initiatives should serve the purpose.
Keywords: urbanisation, water quality, water pollution, Mahseer and aquaponics
