Water from Bhama Askhed: irrigation officials ask civic body to clean up its act first

Reacting to this,civic water supply chief Pramod Nirbhavane said,“We have demanded water from Bhama-Askhed and we have also have been taking measures to recycle water. A number of new sewage treatment plants proposed in the budget is an indicator of that.”

But corporators feel that civic chief Mahesh Zagade’s recent comments about the water availability in the city might have a negative impact on getting water from Bhama-Askhed. During the general body meeting last week Zagade had commented,“Considering Pune’s population of 35 lakh,it needs 7 TMC water. While the irrigation department had given its nod for 11 TMC water for the city,the PMC actually lifts 14 TMC water. Despite that,how is that people in the core city areas as well as on the outskirts do not get sufficient water?” He said that the untraceable loss of water was a mystery.

Objecting to the commissioner’s recent comments,BJP corporator Vikas Mathkari said,“The commissioner’s recent comments will give a reason for the Irrigation department a reason to deny uswater.” In order to get water through the 50-km pipeline stretch from Bhama-Askhed,the estimated cost is Rs 100 crore.