Pune: Collector Chairs Meeting on Pavana Pipeline Project; Farmers Seek Resolution of Pending Issues

Pune, 14th July 2026: A coordination meeting on the proposed Pavana closed pipeline project, which aims to transport water from Pavana dam in Maval to the Nigdi Water Treatment Plant in Pimpri Chinchwad, was held at the Pune district collectorate on Monday, with District Collector Jitendra Dudi, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi, PMRDA Commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari and representatives of protesting farmers discussing pending demands linked to the project.

The meeting, convened at the initiative of Maval Shiv Sena MP Shrirang Barne, was attended by Maval MLA Sunil Shelke, former minister Bala Bhegade, Irrigation Department Superintending Engineer Pravin Kolhe, Maval Sub-Divisional Officer Surendra Navale, PCMC Additional Commissioner Vikrant Bagade and farmers affected by the Pavana dam project.

According to those present, the discussion centred on the demands raised by farmers opposing the project. The district administration assured them that their concerns would be examined and addressed before the project proceeds further.

The farmers reiterated that while they were not opposed to supplying water to Pimpri Chinchwad, long-pending issues concerning dam-affected families must first be resolved. They demanded compensation for land acquired for the Pavana dam, allocation of land in lieu of compensation wherever applicable, clarity on the quantity of water to be reserved for Maval, and assured supply of clean drinking water to villages in the taluka.

Among other demands, the farmers sought employment in the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) for those injured during the agitation, a 5% job reservation in the civic body for members of dam-affected families, development works in the dam catchment area funded by the corporation, and measures to ensure that the Pavana river remains ecologically healthy and villages along its course receive clean water.

At the meeting, District Collector Jitendra Dudi apologised for the incident that occurred during the pipeline work and acknowledged that several demands of dam-affected farmers had remained unresolved for years. He assured the gathering that the administration was committed to resolving the pending issues and would take the project forward only after adequate assurances were given on the farmers’ concerns.

PMRDA Commissioner Abhijit Chaudhari said works to rejuvenate the Pavana river had already been initiated. He said sewage treatment plants (STPs) would be constructed along the river and tenders for the project would be floated shortly.

PCMC Commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi said the closed pipeline project was essential to ensure safe drinking water for residents of Pimpri Chinchwad. He said the quality of water flowing through the river had deteriorated and that transporting water through a closed pipeline would help supply cleaner water to the city while addressing the concerns raised by farmers.

Speaking after the meeting, MP Shrirang Barne described the discussions as positive and said another meeting would be held with the district collector to review how many of the farmers’ demands could be accepted before a final discussion with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

MLA Sunil Shelke said issues concerning land acquired for the Pavana dam had remained unresolved for several years and should be settled before the project moves ahead. Former minister Bala Bhegade said farmers in Maval had repeatedly given land for public projects, including the dam, defence establishments, railways, roads and industrial development, and stressed that while they supported development, the government’s response to their demands would determine the future course of the project.