Uruli water contaminated,study backs residents’ claim

And now,the residents have a research paper to back their claim. Two students of University of Pune under the guidance of an officer from the Groundwater Survey and Research Agency (GSDA) supported the villagers’ claim after a study that the groundwater in Uruli was heavily contaminated and unsuitable for human consumption.

The students looked at 16 dugwells and two borewells that were used for both irrigaion and domestic purposes.

The paper said the chemical and biochemical contamination is on the higher side for many elements beyond the limits of WHO,and pollution control board standards.

“The unscientific dumping of solid waste on the ground on the upstream side of an abundant stone quarry has given rise to the accumulation of ‘leachate’ in the quarry,” the study said. This quarry was closed two months ago. But the percolation from this quarry over the last many years has led to extensive pollution of Uruli groundwater.

Significantly,the paper quotes the PMC as saying that the garbage content at the dumping yard could be brought down to 27 per cent if the organic matter (as high as 65 per cent) could be taken care of through compost pits at the source level itself.

“Even without any study,we could have told you that the water is completely contaminated and unsuitable for anything — we can’t drink this water,cannot use it in fields,nor can we give it to our animals,” said Vijay Bhandale,a Uruli villager,who stopped using his well years ago. “Every well in our village has gone bad. In fact,the water within the 3-4 km radius of this village is bad and unfit for human consumption,” Bhandale said.

The dumping at Uruli began in 1993 and at Phursungi in 2003. “Even if they stop dumping now,we will have to bear the effects of this pollution for the next 20 years,” Mehta said.

For many years now,residents of Uruli and Phursungi have been protesting against the unscientific dumping of Pune’s garbage.

“We have conducted no study on the groundwater,for that we will have to take PMC’s permission,” said Nagargoje K M,director,GSDA. “However,this research paper can be an indication towards what is happening at the site and we could give a copy of it to the municipal commissioner and the collector as well,” Nagargoje.