Pune: Lohegaon, Dhanori residents ‘finally’ taste water from Bhama Askhed dam

Pune: The long-awaited water supply from the Bhama Askhed dam finally reached the taps of Lohegaon and Dhanori residents. It has also become clear that the water can reach the people of Dhanori and Lohegaon with enough pressure through the water pipeline.

The Bhama Askhed is an important project for about 10 lakh residents staying in the eastern part of Pune city. This project will ensure that these 10 lakh people from areas in and around the Nagar road like Yerawada, Dhanori, Kalas, Lohegaon, Wadgaon Sheri and Vishrantwadi will get regular water supply with sufficient pressure.

The project had been stalled for seven years due to the land-acquisition process-affected farmers agitation, their pending compensation and further because of political interference. However, the pending project work was completed during the lockdown period in presence of heavy police deployment for protection.

Now, the inauguration of this project has sparked a controversy between the NCP and the BJP leaders. The final phase of testing is being completed and the pipelines are currently being cleaned as a part of the project. Bhama Askhed Project Head and Superintendent Engineer Yuvraj Deshmukh explained that the technical tests are underway to ensure water flows through the waterways at sufficient speed.

Sudesh Kadu, Executive Engineer, Pune Municipal Corporation said, “About 42 km long water channel has been set up from Bhama Askhed dam to bring water to the eastern parts of the city. 27 tanks have been set up in various parts of the city for water storage, out of which six are new. The water purification project has been set up in Kuruli area. And all these systems are being examined.”

Pune city will be getting an additional 2.6 TMC of water annually from the Bhama Askhed dam henceforth. The testing of water pipelines from the Bhama Askhed dam, water storage tanks and water treatment plants for ensuring regular water supply to these areas had begun from 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.

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 was 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.

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