Speeding up the work of water channel in Bhama Askhed Yojana

Pimpri-Chinchwad:-The underground water pipeline work for the Bhama-Aasakhed Dam Water Supply Scheme, undertaken to supply water to Pimpri-Chinchwad city, has completed its four-year deadline. However, only 50% of the work has been completed, prompting the Municipal Corporation to issue a notice to the contractor. After receiving the notice, the contractor has expedited the work. To complete the remaining work, the contractor will be granted a one-year extension. Once the work is completed, the city will receive 167 MLD (Million Liters per Day) of water.

Currently, Pimpri-Chinchwad city is supplied water from the Pavana Dam in Maval taluka. Every day, 510 MLD of water is lifted from the Ravet Barrage on the Pavana River. An additional 20 MLD is being sourced from MIDC, and 80 MLD is temporarily being drawn from the Nighoj Barrage on the Indrayani River via the Andra Dam. Since November 25, 2019, the city has been receiving water every alternate day. Despite this, complaints continue about insufficient water supply in some areas of the city.

Due to the delay in completing the work, the Water Supply Department had recommended action against the contractor to the Commissioner. A notice was also issued. Following this, Commissioner Shekhar Singh, Additional Commissioner Pradeep Jambhale Patil, Chief Engineer of the Water Supply Department Pramod Ombase, and Assistant City Engineer Ajay Surwanshi held four meetings with the contractor. After these discussions, the contractor was asked to prepare an action plan for expediting the work. Following the notice, Offshore India has accelerated the pipeline work, and a one-year extension will be granted to complete the project.

To meet the city’s demand, 100 MLD of water will be sourced from the Andra Dam in Maval taluka and 167 MLD from the Bhama-Aasakhed Dam in Khed taluka. A 7.30 km-long rising main pipeline, with a diameter of 1700 millimeters, will be laid from the Ashuddh Jalupasa center near Wadi in Khed to the Nawalakh Umbre in Talegaon Dabhade MIDC. From there, another 18.80 km-long pipeline with a diameter of 1400 millimeters will transport water to the water purification center in Chikhli. In 2020, the Municipal Corporation’s Water Supply Department conducted a tender process for laying the pipeline, and the contract was awarded to Offshore India Limited on December 15, 2020. The expected cost for the project is 162 crore rupees.

To ensure timely completion, the Water Supply Department has prioritized the work of the pipeline. Assistant City Engineer Ajay Surwanshi stated that the contractor has now accelerated the work, and completing the pipeline within the given deadline is a priority for the department.