Pavana row unresolved, PCMC eyes Andra water

While the fate of Rs 400-crore water pipeline from Pavana dam hangs in the balance, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has decided to lift water from Andra dam, which is also located in Maval area but on the other side of the Pune-Mumbai highway. A proposal for preparing a detailed project report and making provision for the expenditure will come up for discussion before the PCMC standing committee on Tuesday.

PCMC is planning to lay a pipeline directly from Andra dam in Mangloor village near Talegaon MIDC. The Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP) has estimated an expenditure of Rs 217 crore for laying the pipeline. Municipal Commissioner Dr Shrikar Pardeshi on Sunday said he has already spoken to MJP officials. He said his predecessor Asheesh Sharma had initiated the move in view of the rising population. "As of now, we lift 428 MLD water from Pavana dam. We plan to lift 100 MLD from Andra dam," he said. Pimpri-Chinchwad has a population of 18 lakh.

Since Andra dam lies to the right of Pune-Mumbai highway and its water is released in Indrayani river, officials said the dam water could take care of areas like Moshi, Wadmukhwadi, Dighi, Chikhli, Bhosari and Indrayaninagar. "PCMC will then need less water from Pavana dam. This would also ease protests from Maval farmers," civic officials said.

Activist Maruti Bhapkar said this would not be the case. "In fact, farmers along the Indrayani river will now protest," he said. Bhapkar, however, said PCMC's move to lift water from Andra dam is highly welcome. "During the last general body's tenure, we had demanded that PCMC should lift water from Andra dam," he said.

Bhapkar said farmers along Pavana river were not taken into confidence before PCMC started the pipeline project. "The farmers have not been rehabilitated. They have not been given jobs. Their other demands too remain unresolved," he said.

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