Pimpri Chinchwad, 14th March 2026: BJP corporator Rahul Kalate strongly raised the issue of drinking water supply in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) General Body meeting, demanding that the long-pending Pavana water pipeline project be expedited with immediate funding to ensure regular and clean water supply to residents.
тАЬIt is unfortunate that the administration cites budget constraints when it comes to providing regular water supply to citizens. The BJP had promised clean and regular water supply to the residents of Pimpri Chinchwad, and that promise must be fulfilled. The required funds should be arranged immediately and the Pavana water pipeline project must be expedited,тАЭ said Kalate.
The PCMC General Body meeting was held on March 13, where several key civic issues, including the Smart City project review, daily water supply planning, and waste management, were discussed in detail. Speaking during the meeting, Kalate questioned the administration on the concrete action taken in the past month to address the cityтАЩs drinking water concerns.
He stressed that areas such as Wakad, Tathawade, Punawale and regions receiving water supply from the Ravet pumping station require a consistent and clean water supply. Kalate demanded that the civic administration speed up the Pavana water pipeline project and allocate the necessary funds to ensure regular supply.
Calling it unfortunate that the administration cites lack of funds as a reason for not providing daily water supply, Kalate said access to clean and regular drinking water is the right of citizens. He reminded the house that the BJP had promised Pimpri Chinchwad residents regular water supply when it came to power, and that promise must be fulfilled.
Kalate also pointed out that delaying the Pavana water pipeline project due to funding constraints would only increase its cost further. He urged the administration to take immediate action, noting that Pimpri ChinchwadтАЩs population is growing rapidly and ensuring regular water supply should be treated as a priority responsibility.
Drawing the attention of the house to the worsening water situation, Kalate said several parts of the city continue to face complaints of water shortage, which intensifies during the summer months. He explained that water released from the Pavana Dam is lifted from the Pavana River barrage at Ravet and treated before being supplied to the entire city.
He further sought clarity on the action taken after the mayorтАЩs earlier visit to the water purification centre. Kalate also questioned the deteriorating quality of water in the Pavana riverbed near the Ravet pumping station and asked the administration to explain the specific work to be undertaken by the agency appointed by the municipal corporation with an allocation of Rs 20 lakh.
While speaking on the Smart City project, Kalate said members should evaluate the scheme by understanding its scope. He noted that the project was limited to infrastructure development in only two areasтАФPimple Gurav and Pimple SaudagarтАФresulting in most works being confined to those localities.
However, he added that some тАЬsmart projectsтАЭ initiated under the scheme have benefits for the entire city. One such initiative is the installation of CCTV cameras for public safety. Kalate raised concerns over how many of the CCTV cameras installed by the contractor are currently functioning and said the contractor must be held accountable for maintenance and repairs. He also suggested that responsibility for all remaining works under the scheme should be clearly defined.
Pavana Water Pipeline Project Crucial for Pimpri Chinchwad
Kalate emphasised that the Pavana water pipeline project is essential for the city and must be accelerated. The project has been stalled for nearly 15 years. So far, around Rs 200 crore has been spent, while the total project cost originally estimated at Rs 400 crore has now escalated to Rs 1,256 crore. Despite this massive cost escalation, the project remains largely on paper, he said.
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