PCMC seeks to divert pipeline funds

Since the chances of implementing the controversial closed pipeline project lifting water directly from Pavana dam to Nigdi are bleak, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has decided to divert project funds of Rs20 crore. It wants to use the funds for the construction of the flyover from Nashik Phata to Wakad.

The civic administration has tabled the proposal for approval at the standing committee meeting to be held on October 18.
The state government had issued the stop work order on the water pipeline project on August 10, 2011 and ordered a judicial inquiry by a retired high court judge after police firing killed four farmers, including a 45-year-old woman. The police were forced to open fire at Rautwadi in Kurunj village, off the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, when farmers protesting against the government’s land acquisition for the project started pelting policemen with stones.

The villagers and farmers have consistently opposed the project ever since the PCMC started work in 2008 under the Jawaharlal Nehru national urban renewable mission. As a result, only 10% of the project has been completed and the project’s cost has gone up.

The pipeline project was inaugurated by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar on May 1 2008. The civic body had submitted the proposal which was estimated to cost Rs234 crore to the Centre. The Centre agreed to provide

Rs117 crore for the project and the civic body’s share was Rs 64 crore. Later, the cost was increased Rs398 crore due to the negligence of the civic administration and the ruling party. Without completing the land acquisition, the civic body had given the project work to Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC), Sheth Masurkar Company (SMC) and Indu Projects who were jointly working on the project.

As the hopes for completing the project have almost vanished, the civic body decided to divert Rs20 crore funds for the work of Nashik Phata-Wakad flyover. The civic body wants the flyover to be built as early as possible and has decided to divert the funds from the pipeline project.