Pashan

Pashan is suburb of Pune, India. It is located off the Mumbai-Bangalore national highway, by-passing Pune city. Pashan road serves as the main approach road for Mumbai-Pune expressway.[1] Pashan is bordered by Baner in north, Sus on west, Bavdhan in south and Pune University in east. Pashan is mostly a residential suburb of Pune and large portions are occupied by various governmental and educational institutions. In October 2019, Pashan received more rainfall than the wettest place on Earth.[2]

Pashan
Neighbourhood
Hillock behind residential apartments is a protected biodiversity park.
Nickname(s): 
जिजापुर
Pashan
Location in Maharashtra, India
Coordinates: 18°32′7″N 73°46′58″E
Country India
StateMaharashtra
DistrictPune District
Government
 • BodyPune Municipal Corporation
Elevation
570 m (1,870 ft)
Languages
 • OfficialMarathi
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Lok Sabha constituencyPune (Lok Sabha constituency)
Civic agencyPune Municipal Corporation

Etymology

Pashan literally means rock or stone in Sanskrit and local Marathi language.[3]

Administration

Pashan is part of the Kothrud (Vidhan Sabha constituency).[4] It has two ward representatives in Pune Munical Corporation.

Pashan Lake
Main article: Pashan Lake
Panoramic view of the lake
Sunset at pashan lake

Pashan lake is a manmade lake, built by bunding a small river (Ramnadi). The river originates from Bavdhan and flows via Pashan, Sutarwadi, Baner to Someshwarwadi before flowing into the main Mula river.[5] The total catchment area is 40 square kilometres (15 sq mi). Lake served as a source of water to old Pashan village, for growing crops all the year round and to nearby Governor's house.[6] Lake and its surrounding area attracts migratory birds and so is popular spot for bird watchers. Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has constructed a 300-metre footpath called the nature trail alongside the lake. It is constructed along the western shore of Pashan lake. Also, PMC has built a bamboo plantation and wall alongside the lake to protect it and attract birds.[7] Within municipal limits of Pune city, Pashan has the maximum hill area of 5111.89 hectors (excluding 23 fringe villages).[8]

The Baner - Pashan Biodiversity Park has also been proposed by the PMC.[9] The land of 200 hectors is owned by state government and runs along Baner Hill. The hill has variable flat and dome shaped topography much of which is formed by rocky, strata with a small layer of soil.[10]

Environmental Concerns

Recently, deforestation on nearby hills has caused heavy silt formation resulting in decrease in the depth of the lake.[11] Ipomea weed is also cited as a major cause of lake's deterioration as it prohibits the growth of other plants. Also washing of trucks in the area contributes to the pollution by adding oil and petrol to the sewage. PMC estimates that 40,000 people could be provided with drinking water at per capita cost of ₹250 (US$3.50) as compared with the existing per capita cost of ₹1,500 (US$21).[12]

The water quality deteriorated fast as the quantity of sewage water and other effluents mixing in the water kept rising. PMC worked towards improving the filtration plant but water quality remained poor.[13] In 1998, Pune Municipal Corporation discontinued providing drinking water from the lake. However, now the lake is being studied for providing potable water again.[14] During the financial year 2004–2005 PMC spent ₹10 million (US$140,000) for de-silting Pashan and Katraj lakes. Reactivation of Pashan purification plant is also under PMC consideration.[15]

People and culture

Balaji Mandir, a Hindu temple of Lord Balaji, is located at main intersection of village.[16] Temple is maintained by Sri Ahobila Mutt trust. The temple construction began in 1998 and temple was consecrated in 2002.[17] Someshwarwadi area has an old Shiva temple built at the time of Shivaji. The temple is located on the banks of Ramnadi.[18]

On 4 July 2008 a tree plantation drive was taken up for maintaining the ecological balance ahead of 2008 Commonwealth Youth Games.[19] Pashan hosts a weekly vegetable market on Sundays. There are a fair amount of gypsy (Lamhani) community that lives around the hills in Pashan – and on a normal day – you are likely to see a few womenfolk with interesting costumes (with mirrors) and nose rings.

Transport
Paved second section of Baner-Pashan Link road from Rolling Hills to Magnolia via Crystal Garden

Pashan is well connected to Baner, Aundh, Bavdhan, University Square, Sus via excellent roads. The train station is about 10 km away (20 mins) and the airport about 15 km away (35–40 mins). Suttarwadi, Abhinav College and Pashan village are the major stops for PMPML buses that cater to passengers. Direct buses are available from these stops to Deccan Gymkhana, Marketyard[20] and Pune Station.[21]

Establishments

Pashan is home to numerous state government and central government establishments in Pune.

Abhinav College of arts is an important educational institute in Pashan.

References
  1. "Pashan expressway to be widened". The Times of India. 1 October 2003. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  2. Madaan, Neha (24 October 2019). "Pashan gets more rain in October than wettest place on earth". The Times of India.
  3. Amelia Fitz; Clarence Cary Falkland (1857). Chow-chow Being Selections from a Journal Kept in India, Egypt, and Syria. New York Public Library: Hurst and Blackett. pp. 237. Retrieved 21 December 2008. Pashan village.
  4. "District wise List of Assembly and Parliamentary Constituencies". Chief Electoral Officer, Maharashtra website. Archived from the original on 18 March 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  5. "Ramnadi shrunk by 8–20 m: survey". The Times of India. 24 July 2007. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  6. W. M. Fletcher; P. C. H. Snow. "Gazeetters of Bombay Presidency Poona HAVELI taluka water section". Gazeetters of Bombay Presidency. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  7. "18 months on, Rs 14-lakh nature trail along Pashan lake waits for visitors". The Indian Express. 2 January 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2011.
  8. Abhijit Atre (31 December 2004). "Report confirms that constructions on city hills". The Times of India. Retrieved 7 December 2008.
  9. Rajlaxmi Bhosale. "The identified Forest areas in Pune". iclei.org. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  10. "Proposed Biodiversity Park for Pune". Garden Department. Pune Municipal Corporation. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  11. "ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION OF AN URBAN LACUSTRINE WATER BODY IN PUNE , INDIA". Runwa. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  12. "Pashan lake crying for help". The Indian Express. 5 August 1999. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  13. "Pashan station repairs begin". The Indian Express. 19 September 1998. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  14. "Coming soon? Drinking water from Pashan lake". Indian Express (Mumbai). India Environmental Portal. 7 March 2008. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  15. "Pashan lake grabs attention at last". The Times of India. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 6 December 2008.
  16. "National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune" (PDF). National Informatic Center. National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 9 December 2008.
  17. "Sri Ahobila Mutt Balaji Mandir". Sri Ahobila Mutt. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  18. Oturka, Rajaram (1951). Poona: look and outlook. Municipal Corporation. p. 64.
  19. "Commonwealth Youth Games, Pune 2008 celebrates "100 Days to Go"" (PDF). cygpune2008.com. 4 July 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2008.
  20. "NIV to Marketyard bus route". PMPML.org. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  21. "Suttarwadi to Station bus route". PMPML.org. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
  22. "Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology". Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology. Archived from the original on 13 August 2010. Retrieved 20 January 2011.
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