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Rs 380 crore Bhama Askhed plan gets Centre’s nod

Wednesday, 03 July 2013 12:13 administrator
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The Indian Express        03.07.2013 

Rs 380 crore Bhama Askhed plan gets Centre’s nod

In a major boost to PMC's efforts to increase its water supply capacity to meet the rising demand of drinking water, the Union government has given its nod to the implementation of a Rs 380 crore project to draw water from Bhama Askhed dam and a Rs 118 crore project to expand the water works at Vadgaon Budhruk.

The meeting of Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee (CSMC) of the Union Urban Ministry was held in Delhi on Tuesday and the two proposals of PMC were taken up for discussion. "The two projects have been given the nod for implementation under JNNURM," said Municipal Commissioner Mahesh Pathak.

He said that the third proposal of increasing the water supply capacity at Parvati, the main water works of the city, would be taken up in the next meeting.

The civic administration had planned the project to enable it to meet the increased demand of the city, which is undergoing rapid urbanisation. However, the huge costs involved had delayed implementation of the project. It was later proposed to be implemented through JNNURM funds.

"The projects will now gain pace and meet the JNNURM deadline," said superintendent engineer V G Kulkarni.

In its proposals collectively pegged at Rs 1,282 crore, the PMC had sought approval to Bhama Askhed project while estimating its cost at Rs 447 crore. The project has been planned to meet the water supply needs of the eastern part of the city that includes the entire Nagar road, Yerawada, Kharadi, Lohegaon and Vadgaonsheri areas.

Similarly, the estimated cost of expanding the water work project at Vadgaon Budhruk was pegged at Rs 147 crore. The PMC plans to construct a water purification plant of 250 MLD at Vadgaon Budhruk which would cater to the water demands of fringe areas on Sinhagad Road, Satara Road and Solapur Road alongwith new villages is likely to be merged in civic jurisdiction.

The other two proposals pending with the CSMC relate to increasing the water supply capacity of Parvati Water Works by 500 MLD at an estimated cost of Rs 198 crore and constructing storm water drains and nullah channelisation at a cost of Rs 490 crore.

PMC has also started work on the 24x7 water supply project with equitable distribution. It has taken up five areas for the pilot project and would soon instal water meters and revamp the water supply network in the city.