PMC to compensate Bhama Askhed dam-hit farmers

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has decided to compensate the Bhama-Askhed dam-affected farmers. In next week, the civic administration will table a proposal to approve around Rs 240 crore to give to the farmers. The PMC has taken this decision as per the demand raised by the Water Resources Department. 

While speaking to Sakal Times, VG Kulkarni, Head of Water Supply Department of PMC said, “Last week, Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao met Divisional Commissioner Deepak Mhaisekar to discuss the demand raised by the Water Resources Department. They have demanded a compensation of Rs 15 lakh per hectare and the total amount is Rs 240 crore which will be given to the farmers.”

He further said that the PMC needs to give this compensation to the Water Resources Department. He added that the proposal will be tabled before the Standing Committee and General Body meeting.

The PMC carried out the work to lay the pipeline from Bhama Askhed dam to Pune to quench the thirst of the residents of eastern part of the city. The project will benefit 14.50 lakh people staying in the region.  

Under this project, it was decided to lay a 42-kilometre pipeline from Bhama Askhed dam located in Khed taluka and get 2.8 Thousand Million Cubic Feet (TMC) water to the city. Out of this entire project, more than 60 per cent work has been completed so far. The project had a deadline of July 2017 which was later revised to July 2018 due to protests from local farmers. Now, it has been extended till the end of 2019.