Wakad Lake is located a few hundred metres before the Kalewadi phata chowk, along the Aundh-Ravet Road. It is located at a prime location in the fast developing area of Wakad, which was earlier with the Pimpri-Chinchwad New Township Development Authority. It was later transferred and brought under the development control of the PCMC. The site has been shown as a “water body” in the development plan.
A proposal has been tabled before the civic GB to seek approval for the conversion of the lake into a residential zone.The Bombay high court has told the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to file a say within four weeks on the civic body’s proposal to convert the Wakad lake into a residential zone following a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Moti Mudaliar, a resident of Pimpale Nilakh.
Mudaliar told that the lake should be conserved and not be converted into a residential zone or used for a commercial project. “Debris is being dumped into the lake for the last three to four years. There is evidence that a lake/water body existed on the spot since 1930. The lake needs to be preserved from the point of view of environment and groundwater recharging,” he added.
Meanwhile, Manav Kamble, president, Nagari Hakka Suraksha Samiti, said, “The lake at Wakad is very old and located on grazing land at a prime location. Filling up the lake with debris is detrimental to the environment.”
Vikas Patil, president, Paryavaran Samvardhan Samiti, said, “It is the duty of the local self-government body to conserve natural water sources that support biodiversity. We demand that the civic body protect the wells, ponds and lakes within the municipal limits.”
