Villagers’ stir stalls Bhama Askhed work

PUNE: The civic body's plan to expedite the Bhama Askhed pipeline project has hit another round of hurdle with local villagers stopping the work to realize their demand of compensation.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been planning to complete all work related to the project by the end of December. But the agitation by the villagers during the past two days has posed a challenge before the administration.
The PMC officials were eyeing police protection to resume work, but feared whether such security cover would be possible because the men in uniform would be busy with Ganeshotsav arrangements.
They are now planning to take up the issue with guardian minister Chandrakant Patil for an early breakthrough. "All necessary steps will be taken to meet the deadline," said Pravind Gedam, executive engineer in the PMC and in-charge of the project .
Aggrieved over the compensation, the local villagers held a meeting in Khed on Sunday and stopped work of the project.
"Construction of a jackwell and laying of pipelines were on. But the labourers at these sites were told to stop work," a PMC official said.
"A breakthrough into the impasse is a must before Ganeshotsav because the code of conduct for the assembly polls may come into effect anytime after the festival," an official said.