For pipeline flow,PCMC woos farmers in Maval with two small dams

The plan was in fact announced by the PCMC shortly after three Maval farmers were killed last year during protests against the pipeline. The then municipal commissioner Asheesh Sharma had said two weirs would ensure sufficient water for Maval region and farmers would have no reason to complain. The plan had so far remained grounded but now the PCMC administration has decided to speed it up to move the pipeline project,which remains a non-starter.

The PCMC administration has sought the standing committee approval for the water supply department’s proposal to conduct a survey by the irrigation department to construct the two weirs.

The administration proposal said the PCMC had undertaken the work of the pipeline under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission,but it came to a halt following protests by farmers and the police firing in which three persons were killed on August 9 last year. The civic body wants the pipeline as it would reduce water losses due to percolation and evaporation seen in canals.

Civic officials said the Maharashtra Water Resources Regulatory Authority which has submitted its report to the state government was also in favour of the pipeline project.

The authority has recommended that the PCMC build two KT weirs on the Pavana. The irrigation department has sought Rs 7 lakh to conduct the survey and prepare budgetary estimates.

The PCMC lifts 425 MLD from the river at Ravet bund which it supplies to a population of around 18 lakh. The water is treated at the Nigdi water treatment plant. “If water is lifted directly from Pavana through a closed pipeline,it will reduce water loss to a considerable extent and pollution would also be low,” officials said.

The PCMC had also decided to lift water from Andra dam on the other side of Maval area. That proposal is also facing opposition. Farmers in the vicinity said unless their demands are met,they would not allow PCMC to lift water from Andra. Along with the farmers,the Maval Taluka NCP and the Shiv Sena are opposing the PCMC plan. NCP Maval taluka leader Babanrao Begde said,“It has been 12 years since Andra dam was constructed. The state government has not yet rehabilitated the project affected people. If the issue of rehabilitation is not resolved,we will stop the pipleline work of Chakan MIDC. A delegation of NCP Maval taluka recently met district officials in Wadgaon Maval and handed over a memorandum of their demands.

Shiv Sena leader Raju Khandbor,on the other hand,said if any efforts are made to lift water from Andra dam,the Sena would launch an intense agitation.