Farmers said the pipeline will deprive villages along the river of water needed for agriculture, and warned that they would not allow the project to proceed until their concerns are addressed
Pune : Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) plan to draw water directly from Andra dam through a closed pipeline has triggered opposition from farmers in at least 14 villages in Maval. The farmers have threatened a march to the tehsildar’s office on Oct 22 over pending rehabilitation demands and concerns about irrigation. That project has remained stalled for 14 years following protests during which three farmers were killed in police firing in 2011.
Farmers have also demanded that water supply from Andra dam to Talegaon and Pimpri-Chinchwad be stopped until their rehabilitation issues are resolved. They have alleged that land acquisition for phase IV of Talegaon MIDC in Nigde, Ambale, Pavlewadi, and Kalhat is proceeding without taking villagers into confidence. The opposition comes amid a prolonged stalemate over PCMC’s separate closed pipeline project from Pavana dam. The incident led to a stay on the project.
The protest plan was discussed at a meeting at Bhairavnath temple in Takwe Budruk on Monday.