Sunetra Pawar Highlights Water Conservation Efforts by Environmental Forum of India

Baramati, March 2026 : Sunetra Ajit Pawar said that significant progress has been made in promoting water conservation through the initiatives of the Environmental Forum of India, which has carried out water conservation projects in more than 28 villages of the taluka.

Speaking at a programme organised to mark the anniversary of the Environmental Forum of India, Pawar said the efforts have helped increase water storage by nearly 50 crore litres, thereby reducing water scarcity in several villages.

Several dignitaries attended the event, including Panchayat Samiti chairman Kiran Taware, Baramati Municipal Council president Sachin Satav, Malegaon municipal council president Suyog Satpute, Sub-Divisional Officer Vaibhav Navadkar, Additional Superintendent of Police Ganesh Biradar, Deputy Superintendent of Police Dr. Sudarshan Rathod, Tehsildar Swapnil Rawade, and Dean of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College Dr. Chandrakant Mhaske, among others.

Pawar noted that the Environmental Forum of India–Baramati has been actively working in various sectors for the past 16 years under the guidance of the late deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. She said the organisation has made a meaningful contribution to the development of Baramati through its various initiatives.

Through the forum, several programmes aimed at the overall welfare of citizens have been conducted. These include free cataract surgeries for around 6,000 people, cancer awareness lectures and screening camps, and environmental awareness initiatives such as lecture series, science fairs, tree plantation drives, creation of water sources, traditional soil-based sports festivals, and community events like “Happy Street”.

Pawar emphasised that building a clean, beautiful, and environmentally sustainable Baramati—an idea envisioned by the late Ajit Pawar—is a shared responsibility of society. She appealed to voluntary organisations and community groups to take the lead in such initiatives.

During the event, equipment funded through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives was also handed over. This included a FACO machine for the Baramati Senior Citizens Home and a radiography machine for Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College.

On the occasion, environmentalists Ramesh and Swati Kharmale from Junnar were honoured with the Vasundhara Award 2026 for their outstanding contribution to environmental conservation.

Additionally, Dr. Parikshit Gogate, Abhijit Chaudhar, Dr. Purushottam Pawar, Dr. Radhika Shah-Wagholikar, and swimmer Varada Kulkarni were presented with the “Baramati Icon–2026” awards in recognition of their achievements in various fields.