Pune: Baner-Balewadi 24×7 Water Supply Scheme Inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis
Pune, 15th May 2023: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, inaugurated the groundbreaking ceremony of the Sus-Mhalunge water supply scheme by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The event also marked the inauguration of the main pressure pipes and water tanks from the Warje Water Purification Center to Baner-Balewadi under the 24×7 Same Water Supply Project.
The program, held at Balewadi, was presided over by Minister of Higher and Technical Education and District Guardian Minister, Chandrakant Patil. Several dignitaries including Legislative Council Deputy Speaker Dr. Neelam Gorhe, MLAs Bhimrao Tapkir, Madhuri Misal, Sunil Kamble, Siddharth Shirole, former MLAs Jagdish Mulik, Yogesh Tilekar, Pune Municipal Commissioner Vikram Kumar, Additional Commissioner Kunal Khemnar, and Vikas Dhakne were present on this significant occasion.
Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis highlighted the importance of Pune city, not only as a historical city but also as a city of the future. Known as the ‘Knowledge City’ of the 21st century, Pune is a hub of knowledge, science, and innovation. Pune district holds a crucial position as the manufacturing hub of Maharashtra, contributing significantly to the state’s production. Fadnavis stressed the need to create a livable environment, provide education, healthcare, and ensure overall development to meet the growing population’s needs.
Addressing the water supply issues, Fadnavis acknowledged that while there was abundant water in Pune, a significant portion of the city remained thirsty due to faults in the distribution system. In an effort to resolve this issue, a 24×7 equal water supply scheme, similar to the one in Nagpur, is being initiated for the Baner-Balewadi area. Considering the area’s future development and population growth, the scheme aims to ensure a well-planned provision of drinking water.
Fadnavis emphasized the importance of improving transport facilities in Pune to alleviate traffic congestion. He mentioned key projects such as the Koregaon Park railway flyover and the Suncity to Karvenagar bridge, which will contribute to traffic planning and benefit thousands of students.
The construction of the Pune Ring Road, expected to cost Rs 27,000 crores, will serve as the backbone of Pune’s economy, generating employment opportunities and supporting local industries. Fadnavis also highlighted the rapid development of the Pune Metro and the expansion plans to connect suburbs with the main city, streamlining traffic.
“Infrastructure improvements, including the ongoing work on the Chandni Chowk highway, are aimed at ensuring smoother traffic flow. Notably, Pune boasts the largest number of electric buses in the country, and efforts will be made to enhance public transport facilities through an integrated transport system.”
Focusing on Pune’s overall development, Fadnavis mentioned the completion of 15 smart city projects, the initiation of waste recycling experiments, and the significance of water recycling. A scheme worth Rs 1,900 crores has been started for Mula-Mutha rejuvenation, aiming to improve the cleanliness of rivers. The Deputy Chief Minister stressed the importance of balancing environmental considerations with dynamic development to enhance the quality of life for Pune’s residents.
Speaking about the Baner-Balewadi Water Supply Scheme, Guardian Minister Patil described it as an ambitious project for the city. The scheme addresses the issue of inadequate water supply in certain areas, ensuring 24×7 water supply.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the Three R (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) campaign, which aims to set up decentralized recycling centers with citizen participation.
Under the Baner-Balewadi Water Supply Scheme, three water tanks have been constructed. The project also involved laying a 5 km water channel from the Warje water treatment center to Balewadi. This scheme will effectively fulfill the water demand of the citizens residing in the Baner-Balewadi area.
The foundation stone for the water channel and water tank construction was laid by Deputy Chief Minister Fadnavis via the video conferencing system, marking the initiation of the common water supply scheme for the newly included Sus and Mhalunge villages under the Pune Municipal Corporation. Considering the projected population growth over the next 30 years, plans have been made to construct two tanks in Sus village and four tanks in Mhalunge village, along with 65 km of water channels. The estimated cost of these projects is around Rs 74 crore. Additionally, the laying of water pipes from the Warje water treatment center to Chandni Chowk has been completed.
Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a six-span bridge over the Mutha River, connecting Suncity Sinhagad Road to Dudhane Lawn Karvenagar. The bridge, with a length of 345 meters and a width of 30 meters, will provide convenient access to Karvenagar, Deccan, and Kothrud areas from Sinhagad Road. It will help alleviate traffic congestion in these areas and reduce traffic stress on other roads.
Another significant event was the groundbreaking ceremony for the reconstruction of the Sadhu Vaswani railway flyover at Koregaon Park. The Deputy Chief Minister inaugurated this project, which has been allocated approximately Rs 83 crore. The new bridge will span 640 meters and provide a four-lane road from Bundgarden to the Camp area. Its construction will effectively address traffic congestion in Koregaon Park and Yerwada areas.
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