The Pimpri Chinchwad civic body has developed a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Pavana closed pipeline project, with the estimated cost rising to Rs 10 billion from Rs 3.98 billion in 2009. This updated DPR was prepared a year after the government lifted a stay on the project, which had been suspended in 2011 due to farmers' protests. During the protests in Maval, which had escalated into violence, three farmers were killed in police firing.
Before submitting the DPR to the state government for final approval, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) forwarded it to IIT Bombay for review. A PCMC official stated that based on the recommendations from IIT Bombay experts, necessary adjustments would be made to the final DPR before it is presented to the state government to seek approval and funding for the project.
The state government had lifted the stay on the project in September of the previous year. Ajay Suryavanshi, the executive engineer of PCMC, informed the Times of India that consultants had conducted a new survey to assess whether the materials purchased approximately 13 years ago were still usable. He noted that around 90% of the pipes could be used, which has reduced the overall project cost due to the high current market rates for these pipes.
The civic body's plan involves laying a 34 km direct pipeline to transport water from the Pavana dam. The project, which began in 2009, was halted after completing about 4 km of work in 2011 due to the farmers' agitation. Officials mentioned that the project would benefit PCMC by providing unpolluted water. Currently, PCMC receives 532.5 MLD of water from the Pavana dam and 75 MLD from the Andra dam.
Suryavanshi explained that the project could save around 100 MLD of water once completed. The irrigation department would need to release an additional 100 MLD of water for operational needs and seepage loss. He added that if PCMC's water storage lasts until June or July, it could be extended by another one to one-and-a-half months after the project's implementation.
