Phase-2 of Chikhli Water Purification Project launched to boost Pimpri-Chinchwad’s water supply

ambitious project to address Pimpri-Chinchwad’s water crisis

Pimpri : The Pimpri-Chinchwad city’s water supply infrastructure is progressing with the Andra and Bhama Askhed dam projects, designed to meet the water demands of the growing population over the next 25 years. On Wednesday (9th October) the Phase-2 of Chikhali Water Purification Project begins to boost Pimpri-Chinchwad’s water supply.

The project was officially inaugurated in a virtual ceremony by Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, in the presence of Bhosari assembly constituency MLA Mahesh Landge, other local representatives and PCMC officials.

Currently, 100 MLD of water is being processed and distributed from Andra Dam through the Chikhali Water Purification Plant. Now, with the commencement of Phase-2, an additional 168 MLD will be sourced from Bhama Askhed Dam. The water pipeline work is in its final stage, and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has planned to complete it by June 2025.

The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Council was established in 1970, and later, in 1982, it became a Municipal Corporation. Since then, the city has been solely dependent on the Pavana Dam for water supply. In 2013, under the Congress-led government, 268 MLD of water was reserved from the Andra and Bhama Askhed dams, but the reservation was canceled due to unpaid restoration charges.

After the BJP came to power in PCMC in 2017, MLA Mahesh Landge followed up on the matter. With the support of then-Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, water reservations from the Andra and Bhamaskhed dams were secured for Pimpri-Chinchwad. The work on the project began in 2018.

In the first phase, a water purification plant was built in Chikhali to process 100 MLD of water from the Andra Dam. This project became operational on May 15, 2023, and water from the Indrayani River, pumped from the Nigdi-Talawade jackwell, is treated and distributed in the Bhosari constituency.

*Second Phase Progressing Rapidly

In the second phase, 168 MLD of water will be transported from Bhama Askhed Dam to the Chikhali plant through pipelines. Work on this phase started on March 15, 2024. The laying of a 1700mm rising main from Bhama Askhed Dam to Navlakha Umbre, and a 1400mm gravity main from Navlakha Umbre to Dehu, is in its final stage. However, there are some land acquisition issues, particularly for the 75-meter-wide road in the MIDC Phase II area, pending approval from the MIDC Sub-Divisional Officer in Maval. Once approved, PCMC will proceed with laying the water pipeline.

*Jackwell Work at Bhama Askhed in full swing

The Maharashtra Government has approved 168 MLD of non-irrigation water from Bhama Askhed Dam for Pimpri-Chinchwad. In alignment with this, PCMC is constructing an untreated water extraction center at Mouje Waki near the dam, which includes jackwell, pump houses, approach bridges, intake channels, and other associated works like electric and mechanical systems and instrumentation (SCADA). This project is progressing swiftly under PCMC’s supervision.

*BJP MLA Mahesh Landge ‘s comment:

“With the increasing population and rising water demands, the Andra and Bhamaskhed projects will be a lifeline for Pimpri-Chinchwad. The first phase of the project is already complete, and the remaining work is advancing rapidly. The groundbreaking of the Phase-2 water purification plant, which will provide 200 MLD, is an important milestone, and we are confident the project will be completed by June 2025. This will help resolve water issues in the included villages and fulfill the promises made to the citizens.”