Pune: The work of Bhama Askhed project has finally finished and in the next 15 days residents of eastern parts of Pune city will start getting regular water supply. About 10 lakh citizens residing in Yerawada, Vishrantwadi, Wadgaonsheri and Dhanori areas will have their dream come true and need not worry about the water supply to their homes. Pune city will be getting an additional 2.6 TMC of water annually from the Bhama Askhed dam henceforth.
The testing of water pipeline from the Bhama Askhed dam, water storage tanks and water treatment plants for ensuring regular water supply to these areas has begun from Monday (November 30). The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to be double sure of any technical hitches in the water supply from this dam to the eastern Pune region.
Yuvraj Deshmukh, Superintendent Engineer and Bhama Askhed Project head, expressed confidence that the water supply to these regions will not be interrupted and irregular in future. MLA Sunil Tingre also said that citizens will get regular water supply after the testing procedure gets over.
The Bhama Askhed project was initiated in 2013 in order to address the water supply woes of residential areas in and around Nagar road. The project got mired in several political controversies. The farmers from the dam area who were affected in the land acquisition project for this project had protested and thereafter the work was delayed. However, in the past few months, important work related to the project were carried out in police protection.
The agitating farmers have been paid an amount of Rs 105 crores. The amount has been deposited by the PMC with the district administration. The affected farmers will get their dues accordingly, informed PMC Executive Engineer Sudesh Kadu.
Prashant Waghmare, City Engineer, PMC said, “Considering the increased population of Pune city, the actual drinking water supply demand and its shortfall, around 150 MLD water will be drawn from the Bhama Askhed Dam every day. Therefore, citizens in the eastern parts of the city will get regular water supply henceforth. Even though the project is completed, the water supply will be started on regular basis after the technical testing is over in few days.”
BHAMA ASKHED PROJECT
• Total Cost: Rs 403 crore
• Amount spent so far: Rs 360 crore
• Amount Sanctioned: Rs 418 crore
WHO WILL PAY?
• Central Government: 50 per cent
• State government: 20 per cent
• Pune Municipal Corporation: 30 per cent
PROJECT TIMELINE
• Project Approved: July 5, 2013
• Work Started: January 2014
