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‘Ambil Odha – From a babbling brook to a nasty drain’ by Dr. Srikant Gabale is both a scientific study and a passionate plea to reconsider how we treat our urban water bodies. The book traces the transformation of the Ambil Odha, a once-pristine stream in Pune, into a heavily polluted urban drain, showcasing how unplanned urbanisation and poor governance can degrade vital natural ecosystems. This is not just a book about a stream—it is a sobering reflection on the cost of unchecked development.
How Pune’s Ambil Odha became a symbol of urban neglect
Set in Pune, a city rapidly expanding in both population and physical boundaries from 138 sq. km in 1987 to 518 sq. km today, the book focuses on the Ambil Odha—a tributary of the Mutha river and one of many feeder streams that once carried rainwater and life into the river system. With rapid urbanisation, these streams have been encroached upon, diverted, and degraded. Through the lens of Ambil Odha, Dr. Gabale shines light on a much larger issue of how poorly planned urban expansion can disrupt ecosystems, increase disaster risks, and affect the quality of life in Indian cities.
Dr. Gabale, a geographer and academician, originally undertook a detailed study of Ambil Odha as part of his PhD research. What started as an academic inquiry turned into a decade-long journey of documenting the Odha's transformation—and warning of the consequences.
Unplanned growth turns lifeline stream into a flood threat
The 2019 Ambil Odha floods, which killed 21 people and damaged property worth crores in Pune, form a chilling backdrop to this book. In his thesis, Dr. Gabale had already identified 64 locations in the Odha’s watershed that were vulnerable to flooding—each one of them was affected during the disaster. This tragic validation of his research sparked public and institutional interest, leading to the birth of this book.
Spread over twelve chapters, the book is richly detailed and methodically laid out.
The first four chapters set the stage with the historical evolution of Pune city, demographic expansion, and the increasing pressure on its natural resources.
Chapters 5 to 7 delve into the scientific details—topography, geomorphology, hydrology, and the watershed's physiographic profile. This section is packed with data yet accessible to non-specialists.
Chapter 8 critically evaluates the Pune Municipal Corporation’s development plan, revealing glaring mismatches between planned development and the ground realities of the Ambil Odha’s watershed.
Chapter 9 explores the biodiversity around the Odha, highlighting the flora and fauna that are now endangered by pollution and encroachments.
Chapters 10 and 11 use satellite imagery (Landsat data) and flood risk models to assess the impact of urbanisation on water availability, vegetation cover, and disaster risk zones. The evidence is visual, compelling, and undeniable.
Dr Gabale informs, "“My thesis had identified 64 sites that indicated the risks of flooding. All of these sites were flooded in 2019. This is when people started getting interested in the issue of floods and streams in the city. A number of people started coming to me, asking about the details of my study on the Odha. People, researchers as well as the members of the Vadnere committee, a committee appointed to study flood events in the Bhima river basin, asked about the details of the Ambil Odha. I took them for a walk along the Odha and introduced them to the history and flow of the Odha. This is when we decided to write a book to inform the public about the details of the Odha as I had a lot of data”.
What Ambil Odha tells us about water and city futures
This book is a valuable document for citizens, historians, scientists, ecologists, water practitioners and all interested in the water situation of the city and history of Pune. What is unique about this book is that it narrates the story of a stream in Pune city and traces its journey through all the changes that happened in the city since historical times and how these have impacted the current state of the stream. It provides a solid evidence-based study on how urbanisation affects water sources and the biodiversity around it, and of the need to wait and think of the development models that are being propagated in cities such as Pune.
A stream’s story urges planners to rethink development
While the book serves as one stop shop for anything and everything related to the Ambil Odha, it also provides a guideline for city planners to understand the negative impacts of poor planning and encourages them to understand the real problems on the ground and design better and ecofriendly ways to plan urban areas and manage the water resources. It is also a guideline to help politicians understand the water woes of Pune and help them lend a sympathetic ear to the pleas of its citizens.
Why saving city streams is key to climate resilience
The choice of focusing on one stream—rather than a broader river system—makes the book more grounded and specific. It allows the reader to connect deeply with the story of Ambil Odha, which serves as a microcosm for hundreds of similar water bodies in Indian cities facing the same fate.
Dr. Gabale’s personal connection with the Odha and his fieldwork enrich the narrative. His writing is driven by both scientific rigour and emotional investment. This makes the book not just informative but also moving.
One of the most important contributions of this book is that it bridges the gap between scientific research and public discourse. It is written for a wide range of readers—urban planners, water managers, researchers, environmental activists, and even policymakers. Yet, it remains grounded and accessible, with explanations that break down complex concepts.
It also serves as a valuable resource for local citizens. Whether you're a concerned resident of Pune or a student of urban ecology, the book provides practical knowledge about watershed management, flood risk mitigation, and sustainable urban planning.
A wake-up call for city planners
This book on the ‘Ambil Odha’ is more than just a story of one stream. It’s a cautionary tale of what can happen when urban growth is prioritised without ecological considerations. The book urges municipal bodies and planners to incorporate watershed protection into town planning processes and to consider water bodies as living systems—not obstacles to be concretised or ignored.
As cities across India struggle with floods, water shortages, and declining quality of life, this book couldn’t be more timely. It forces us to ask hard questions: Are we designing our cities to live with nature, or to fight against it? Are our rivers and streams assets—or afterthoughts?
‘Ambil Odha – From a babbling brook to a nasty drain’ is a must-read for anyone who cares about water, urban sustainability, and the future of our cities. It is a reminder that even a small stream, if respected and restored, can carry the weight of a city’s resilience.
Availability
The book is available for purchase on Amazon at this link.