Panvel (Representative): Hope is on the horizon for Navi Mumbai’s water scarcity issues, as a productive meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has revitalized the Balganga Dam project in Pen taluka. If all progresses as planned, Navi Mumbai, Uran, Panvel, and the surrounding areas will soon enjoy a reliable and ample water supply.
Relief and Rehabilitation Minister Makrand Jadhav-Patil assured the legislative assembly that the issues of the dam-affected people would be resolved and the project would be completed as soon as possible.
The budget session of the legislature is currently underway in Mumbai. Pen Assembly Constituency MLA Ravisheth Patil and Panvel Assembly Constituency MLA Prashant Thakur drew the government’s attention to the issues of the Balganga Dam-affected people and the completion of the project.
Speaking in the assembly, MLA Ravisheth Patil stated that the land for the Balganga Dam was acquired 15 years ago, resulting in the displacement of six Gram Panchayats, nine revenue villages, 13 tribal hamlets, and approximately 3,000 families. He emphasized that the villagers are not opposed to the dam but their issues must be resolved. He argued that the government did not follow the “Rehabilitation first, then dam” law and demanded justice for the dam-affected people. He specifically called for the resolution of issues such as compensation, rehabilitation packages, civic amenities, family number discrepancies, and benefits from other schemes.
MLA Prashant Thakur pointed out that while it was stated that ₹426.26 crore had been distributed to the dam-affected people, some families received only partial amounts, leading to objections and complaints to the government. He stressed the need for justice for the dam-affected people and inquired about the timeframe for the complete rehabilitation process and the completion of the dam.
In his response in the assembly, Minister Makrand Jadhav-Patil stated that the Balganga Dam was approved by the government in 2009 to provide drinking water to the citizens of Pen, Navi Mumbai, Panvel, and Uran. However, the project was delayed due to legal issues, family number determination, and other objections. He stated that a recent decision has been made in this regard. The acquisition process was carried out under the Land Acquisition Act 13. Approximately 13 villages and 17 hamlets are being rehabilitated. ₹680 crore has been allocated for land acquisition for the Balganga Dam project. Out of this, ₹426 crore has been made available for distribution, and ₹4.24 crore has been deposited with the court due to pending cases. A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in January, where decisions were made regarding the pending issues. The decision to provide the necessary funds for the dam was also made. The Chief Minister entrusted this responsibility to CIDCO, which has also approved it in its board meeting. The family number determination issue was resolved after re-verification, with 2,474 families being identified. The government approved the revised rehabilitation plan for the project on March 4. A proposal of ₹877.22 crore has been sent to the Divisional Commissioner for approval. He assured that the issues of the project and the affected people would be resolved, and the project would be completed soon.
