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18.1.11

Pench pipeline work hit as farmers want higher rates for land

The 27-km-long Pench IV pipeline, which is vital for meeting the water needs of the city in the coming years, has run into trouble with farmers opposing acquisition of their land for laying the pipeline. Completion of the pipeline will increase the water availability in Nagpur by 115 million litres per day (MLD).

The Rs 220 crore pipeline passes through fields of 289 farmers of 17 villages. The district administration had passed an order for acquiring the land. While 79 farmers collected the money at government rates, the remaining ones want market rates and have refused to part with their land. Saoner MLA Sunil Kedar has supported their cause.

NMC officials said that the farmers had agreed to give up their land after a lot of persuasion. However, after the order was passed, some local politicians instigated the farmers to demand higher rates. "The MLAs and other public representatives from the city should discuss the issue with Kedar. This will make things easier for NMC."

The pipeline runs through Mahagenco land and private land. Mahagenco's stretch is 14 km, which the company had handed to the NMC months back. NMC has laid about 12 km pipeline on this stretch. However, the remaining stretch from Kanhan river to Mahadula is private land. "The pipeline material is ready. Our machines are at the site. We just need possession of the land," an official said.

The project's initial deadline was March 2009. It was then extended to March 2011 due to sharp increase in prices of steel and hence the project cost. NMC had to take a huge loan for meeting this escalated cost. However, when things started looking bright, farmers started opposing land acquisition. Unless the land acquisition row is settled, the project will get delayed further increasing the cost.

NMC officials, however, said that while the project was behind schedule, the delay so far was not alarming. "The target till end of November was 72% of the total work. We managed to reach 68%," one of the officials said.

He added that intake well was in advanced stages. "Work of bridge on Kanhan river is in progress and about 60 piles have been completed. All electrical and mechanical are at the site. Plain cement concrete work of the pump house has been completed and placement of reinforcement for raft foundation is in progress."
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