Pune Municipal Corporation to draft 1,100cr plan for Mulshi water

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will draft a Rs 1,100-crore plan to draw 6 TMC water from Mulshi dam to fulfil the city's drinking water demand in 2047.
A water tariff proposal presented by municipal commissioner Kunal Kumar recently mentioned that Pune would need 25 TMC drinking water in 2047. "The city can fetch 19 TMC water from the Khadakwasla dam system, Bhama Askhed and Pavana dams.The remaining 6 TMC water will be drawn from Mulshi dam, for which a separate scheme will be drafted. As per 2015-16 rates, the approximate cost for the project is Rs 1,100 crore," the proposal stated.
Kumar has emphasized the need to plan for the future as water will be significant concern. The plan to draw water from various dams will be drafted as a part of the Rs 3,312-crore water project. PMC will seek assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and Asian Development Bank for the project, the proposal added.
Drawing water for the city from the Mulshi reservoir, which is controlled by Tata Power, has been a long-pending demand. Even the Maharashtra Water Resource Regulatory Authority (MWRRA) recently issued an order stating that water from the dam may be utilized for drinking purpose if necessary. Leaders from Pune had demanded water from Mulshi dam for the city considering the depleting storage in the Khadakwasla system this season.
Guardian minister Girish Bapat had also said that the city will be able to lift about 1.3 TMC water from the Bhama Askhed dam once the water pipeline project is completed. But the project has been stalled for almost a year because of opposition from local farmers, who have demanded a rehabilitation package, reasonable compensation and clearing the title of land ownership. When completed, the direct pipeline from Bhama Askhed will provide water to the city's eastern parts, such as Dhanori, Kalas, Vadgaonsheri, Vimannagar, Wagholi and Kharadi on the Pune-Ahmednagar Road.
BOX: Equitable Distribution
* The Maharashtra Water Resource Regulatory Authority has said it is necessary to devise a mechanism to achieve equitable distribution of available water in the upper Bhima sub-basin (up to Ujani dam) during the period of scarcity
* The authority has called for a study group to be set up to recommend regulation of reservoirs in the upper Bhima sub-basin so as to carry out equitable distribution in an integrated manner whenever required
* A similar exercise is required to be undertaken urgently for the other basins in the state
* The authority said there must be sufficient water available in the upstream projects before water from there can be released downstream. At least 80% of the basic drinking water needs and committed industrial use of the upstream area must be met first