Pawana Closed Pipeline Project Faces Funding Hurdle

• Ruling Party Turns to PCMC Fixed Deposits for Project Funding
  

Pimpri : The Pawana Closed Pipeline Project, considered crucial for the city’s long-term water supply, is yet to reach completion, raising concerns over funding and delays. The project is now expected to require nearly Rs. 1,256 crore, and arranging this massive amount has become a major challenge for the civic administration and local representatives.

The project proposes the construction of a 34.71-kilometre closed pipeline to supply water directly from Pawana Dam to the Pimpri-Chinchwad. The pipeline will extend up to the Nigdi Water Treatment Plant and is expected to help address water shortages arising from Pimpri-Chinchwad’s rapidly growing population.

However, the project has been stalled since 2011 due to strong opposition from farmers in the Maval region and a controversial firing incident during protests. With a revised plan now being considered, the civic administration is once again attempting to restart the project.

According to officials from the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), nearly 100 percent of the land acquisition required for the project has been completed. The next major hurdle is securing funds to begin the actual construction work. At present, the civic body does not have sufficient funds available, making the issue more complex.

Discussions are underway about using PCMC’s fixed deposits to finance the project. The matter was strongly raised during the general body meeting of the municipal corporation held on March 13. Corporator Rahul Kalate demanded that the project be completed on priority by arranging the necessary funds.

Leader of Opposition Bhausaheb Bhoir suggested that the project could be completed by including it under the Smart City project. Mayor Ravi Landge also acknowledged the importance of the project and appealed to the members of the house to consider using the corporation’s deposits to ensure its completion.

Questions Over Political Efforts to Secure Funds

Criticism has also emerged over the ruling leadership’s inability to secure special funds from the state and central governments, despite the same political party being in power at both levels. Critics argue that relying on municipal deposits instead of securing government funding reflects ineffective follow-up by local representatives.

Notably, when the Congress–NCP alliance was in power earlier, more than Rs. 400 crore had been secured for the project under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. Citizens are now demanding that the current leadership make strong efforts with the state and central governments to bring funds and ensure that the long-pending Pawana Closed Pipeline Project is completed at the earliest.