Pune News : Maharashtra government gives green signal to restart stalled Pavana Project after 12 years

By: Pune Pulse

September 11, 2023

Pune: The Maharashtra government has taken a significant step towards resolving the water crisis in Pimpri-Chinchwad by restarting a 12-year-old Pavana Project related to a critical water supply project. This action is expected to expedite the supply of water from the Pavana Dam to the Nigdi Water Purification Plant, benefiting approximately 3 million residents. The project initially faced strong opposition, which resulted in police intervention and unfortunately led to the deaths of three farmers.

As per the information provided, as compensation, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has provided employment opportunities to the families of the deceased farmers. 

Pimpri-Chinchwad is one of India’s rapidly growing cities and has been grappling with water shortages due to its increasing population. Over the past three and a half years, the city has implemented a water distribution schedule, supplying water only once every two days. Many areas still face issues of low water pressure and inconsistent supply, forcing housing societies to rely on private tankers for their water requirements.

Currently, the city draws approximately 510 to 520 million litres per day (MLD) of water from the Pavana Dam, which requires treatment before it can be consumed. The original plan was to directly pipe this water from the dam to the treatment plant, thereby minimizing the risk of contamination and significantly reducing annual water treatment costs.

Additionally, this new arrangement is expected to provide an extra 100 MLD of water for the city. The recent decision by the state government paves the way for a permanent solution to Pimpri-Chinchwad’s water issues.

Shekhar Singh, Municipal Commissioner, PCMC added, “In a rapidly growing city like Pimpri Chinchwad, clean and continuous water supply is a crucial necessity. The revival of the Pavana closed pipeline project signifies a crucial turning point, paving the path for a resilient and sustainable city, where clean water access remains vital amid rapid urbanization. PCMC would now strive to initiate steps towards completing the project on mission mode.”

Madhupriya Dhanwate