Irrigation department demands Rs. 162 crore for water from dam.

The Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) project to draw water from Bhama Askhed dam to meet the drinking water demand of the city has hit a financial hurdle.

The irrigation department has asked Rs. 162 crore from the cash-starved civic body to compensate for the irrigation water the department would have to divert.

The civic administration had started work on the project to draw water from Bhama Askhed by laying a pipeline and constructing a pumping station. The civic body crossed hurdles including land acquisition and resistance from residents of villages through which the pipeline passes.

The irrigation department has now written to PMC demanding Rs. 162 crore to compensate for loss of irrigation water to be diverted to the civic body for supply of drinking water.

'The irrigation department has been citing rules to demand compensation. PMC conveyed to them that the water has not been used for irrigation purposes till date,' said V G Kulkarni, Executive Engineer, PMC.


THE INDIAN EXPRESS