Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) proposal to lift water from Kundalika river located 122 km via Tamhini Ghat section is gathering dust. Meanwhile, the State Water Resources Department has approved the construction of a dam for a private township in Mulshi district under the Hill Station Development Policy.
The dam will have three Thousand Million Cubic feet (TMC) capacity. The dam will be constructed on the Kundalika river, which comes under the Konkan region of Water Resource Department. After knowing about the permission, the ruling BJP leaders have blamed the civic body administration for inaction.
Stating there is a spurt in the city population, last year, former chairman of Standing Committee of PMC Murli Mohol had introduced the idea of fetching water from Kundalika river to Pune. The Standing Committee allotted Rs 1 crore in the annual budget for the same.
In last one year, nothing moved forward but the State Government approved a private company to construct a dam of 3 TMC capacity. Under the Hill Station Township Policy, in 2014, the State Government gave permission to Mumbai-based Maharashtra Valley View Pvt Ltd (MVVPL).
Speaking to Sakal Times, Mohol said, “We allotted Rs 1 crore to bring water from Kundalika river. However, the PMC administration has done nothing on the proposal. It is unfortunate. If a private party is going to construct a dam on the Kundalika river, why cannot we bring water to Pune?”
On Monday, the State Government issued an order approving the company’s proposal. After Lavasa and Aamby Valley, the State Government had approved Aqualand Infrastructure, Satind infrastructure projects in Mulshi district including the MVVPL in 2014.
According to a Water Resource Department official, “The Department gave permission to use water from Kundalika river. The Department will charge money for the usage of water as per government rate. The Department had given similar permission to Lavasa city also.”
He said, “According to the Krishna Valley Water Treaty Ordinance and Supreme Court order, new dam is not acceptable in Krishna Valley area. However, Kundalika river falls under Konkan Irrigation Development Corporation. River water goes to Konkan. Water from this dam is not used for Pune or other western Maharashtra region. Therefore, there is no problem in the construction of private dams in the
Konkan region.”
