This story is from April 3, 2016

Pune: 100-year-old Holkar bridge is falling down

The 100-year-old Victoria bridge, popularly known as Ahilyabai Holkar bridge, in the vicinity of Ramkund was already in danger.And the ongoing drought seems to be an added cause for concern.
Pune: 100-year-old Holkar bridge is falling down
The 100-year-old Victoria bridge, popularly known as Ahilyabai Holkar bridge, in the vicinity of Ramkund was already in danger.And the ongoing drought seems to be an added cause for concern.
Nashik: The 100-year-old Victoria bridge, popularly known as Ahilyabai Holkar bridge, in the vicinity of Ramkund was already in danger. And the ongoing drought seems to be an added cause for concern.
City-based environment activists have expressed fear that digging borewells close to the bridge to draw water for Ramkund would weaken its foundation. The concern is evident from the fact that the UK government warned the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) about a year ago to check the safety of the bridge as its expiry date has lapsed.
Raising concerns over the bridge during a meeting with municipal commissioner Praveen Gedam Friday evening, environment activists came up with a temporary solution for keeping continuous flow of water in Ramkund.
They suggested that the water filtration plant installed during the Kumbh Mela in 20014 could be used if the water needs to be purified.
Activists have come up with the solution in the backdrop of impending water scarcity and dipping levels in dams in the district.
The NMC has proposed to dig three borewells near the Holkar Bridge to keep continuous flow of water for Ramkund, thereby facilitating the pilgrims to perform rituals.
"The proposed bore wells will be in Gopikabai Taas, which is a completely rocky area. It is difficult to dig in this area. The NMC will have to carry out some blasting to dig bore wells. The Holkar bridge nearby was constructed on January 14, 1895. The stability period of the bridge is over and the UK government has also issued a letter to the NMC informing them about it. Hence, digging a bore well close to the bridge is not advisable," said Devang Jani, an environment activist.

Activists said for keeping continuous flow in Ramkund, water could be used from Holkar bridge to Anandwalli where ample amount is available.
"There are three weirs below the Holkar bridge for releasing water into Ramkund. Two of them are not functioning. One of them is directly linked to Ramkund. The water will flow to Ramkund if these two weirs are repaired. The water can be filtered through the filtration plant that was installed during the 2004 Kumbh Mela. The pipelines still exist there," said Rajesh Pandit, another activist.
He said a small motor could be dipped into the water upstream of Holkar bridge and pumped into Ramkund.
Gedam said, "I visited the river bank on Friday night with environment activists. We will consult a geologist and decide whether the bore wells need to be dug. The solution that the activists gave of dipping a small motor upstream of the bridge and drawing water into Ramkund is not feasible as the capacity of the pond is 20 lakh litres."
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