Pyaas Foundation has initiated the rejuvenation and development of two lakes in Halshiwadi, Khanapur, with the support of its CSR partner, AKP Ferrocast.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Madhav Prabhu, President of Pyaas Foundation, stated that the project will ensure abundant water availability for farmers and residents in the coming years. He also expressed gratitude to the Bhandare family, especially Mr. Parag Bhandare and Mrs. Preeti Bhandare, whose support through AKP Ferrocast’s CSR initiative has made the project possible.
The Bhoomi Pujan ceremony for the project was held on Thursday on the auspicious occasion of Gudi Padwa, marking its formal commencement.
In view of the growing impact of water scarcity on agriculture and rural livelihoods, the Foundation has undertaken the development of these two key lakes. The project includes desilting, structural repairs, and enhancement of water storage capacity.
Effective water management is one of the most critical challenges of our time. Rejuvenation of lakes helps conserve rainwater and improves groundwater levels. This initiative will significantly benefit farmers in Halshiwadi and nearby areas by ensuring a reliable water supply and will also help address drinking water issues faced by villagers.
The programme began with traditional rituals performed by senior villager Mr. Vaman Desai, followed by a symbolic ground-breaking ceremony to formally inaugurate the work.
In his introductory remarks, former Taluka Panchayat Member Mr. Chandrakant Desai stated that the project will help reduce water scarcity, improve groundwater , and contribute to the overall development of the village. He also assured full cooperation from the local community for the successful implementation of the initiative.
Among those present were Vice President Mr. Abhimanyu Daga, Secretary Dr. Preeti Kore, Joint Secretary Mr. Avadhoot Samant, Treasurer Mr. Laxmikant Pasari, Directors Mr. Rohan Kulkarni, Mr. Deepak Oulkar, and Mr. Ajay Acharya, along with several villagers including Mr. Dattatraya Desai, Mr. Manik Desai, Mr. Raghunath Desai, Mr. Vinayak Desai, Mr. Ravindra Desai, Mr. Sudhir Desai, Mr. Milind Desai, Mr. Narsingh Desai, Mr. Govind Desai, Mr. Prakash Desai, Mr. Vishnu Desai, Mr. Ramesh Desai, Mr. Umesh Desai, Mr. Lav Desai, Mr. Narayan Desai, Mr. Pramod Desai, Mr. Rajan Sutar, Mr. Vinod Desai, and many more