Pune: Maharashtra Government Faces Notice Over Pavana Dam Drowning; Compensation and Safety Measures Demanded
Pune, 7th August 2024: On 23rd June, a youth drowned in the Pavana Dam in Maval. A month later, his parents issued a notice to the Maharashtra State Government, demanding compensation. The deceased, identified as Advaitha Verma, was an 18-year-old resident of East Delhi. Advaitha was studying at Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies (SCMS) in Viman Nagar. On that day, he and five friends visited the Pavana Dam area. While at Phagane Village, Advaitha stepped into the water and drowned, as he did not anticipate its depth. His friends attempted to rescue him but were unsuccessful.
Advaitha’s uncle, Suresh Verma, a lawyer in Delhi, sent the notice through local lawyer Nitin Kamble in Pune under Section 80 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The notice demands not only compensation but also increased public awareness about safety at the dam, including the installation of notice boards. It is noted that the administration has not adequately informed the public about the risks associated with the dam. Given that Pavana Dam is a popular tourist spot with a high influx of visitors, Kamble emphasized the need for life jackets and boats in the dam area.
In the past year, there have been four drowning deaths at Pavana Dam: Manish Shankar Sharma (20) and Mayank Akhilesh Upadhyay (25) in February, Advaitha Verma (18) in June, and Sagar Kailas Sathe (28) in July.
