The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) aims to complete the much-anticipated Bhama-Askhed Water Supply Project by June 2025.
With the population of Pimpri-Chinchwad now exceeding 3 million, the current water supply from Pavana Dam has become insufficient.
To ensure equitable and adequate water distribution with proper pressure, the former Commissioner Shravan Hardikar implemented a water supply plan on alternate days starting on November 25, 2019.
This system remains in place, which the administration claims has reduced the number of complaints regarding water shortages. Additionally, 100 million liters of water are now being received daily from the Andra Dam.
The daily water quota sanctioned for Pimpri-Chinchwad from the Andra and Bhama-Askhed dams is 100 million liters and 167 million liters, respectively, totaling 267 million liters per day.
To process this, a water treatment plant with a capacity of 300 million liters per day is being constructed in Chikhali. While a 100 million liter plant became operational last year, bringing Andra Dam water to areas like Chikhali, Moshi, Dudulgaon, Charholi, and Bhosari, work on the Bhama-Askhed project has been delayed for several reasons.
Status of Bhama-Askhed Project at a Glance
Construction of the raw water pumping station in Wakitarf Wada is 65% complete.
A 7.30-kilometer, 1700-millimeter diameter rising main pipeline will be laid from the station to the break pressure tank in Talegaon.
The construction of the break pressure tank in Talegaon is nearly complete. An 18.80-kilometer gravity main pipeline, 1400 millimeters in diameter, will connect the break tank to the water treatment plant in Chikhli, with 8.40 kilometers of pipeline already laid.
Soil testing and structural design work for the break pressure tank in Talegaon and the Chikhli water treatment plant have also been completed.
According to Chief Engineer Pramod Ombhase, "The raw water pumping station for the Bhama-Askhed water supply project is 65% complete, and the remaining work is progressing rapidly.
A 100 million liter per day capacity water treatment plant was built and made operational in the first phase under the Andra Dam project. We are working diligently to ensure that 167 million liters of water from the Bhama-Askhed project becomes available."
