PMC to undertake Rs 935-crore project to resolve water crisis
To resolve its water woes, the PMC has prepared a master plan with an estimated cost of Rs 2,800 crore.
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The PMC has laid a 2,688-km long pipeline network across the city for water supply.
The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) admitted that about 2.3 lakh people in the city do not receive direct pipeline water, while 2.6 lakh people receive less than 100 litres per day. The civic body has now proposed a Rs 935-crore project under AMRUT to resolve the drinking water woes in its jurisdiction.
As per the state government’s directions, the PMC has forwarded a Service Level Improvement Plan (SLIP) for water supply while proposing projects under Union government’s AMRUT. “The state government had urged the civic bodies to sent proposals for improving water supply system ahead of projects for other civic sectors. Thus, it has been forwarded by completing the necessary process of preparing SLIP,” said a PMC official.
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In its plan, the PMC has identified gaps in its water supply system. “About 7 per cent of the total population in the city, which is 54,453 households comprising around 2.3 lakh residents, are not covered with direct piped water supply,” it said, adding that the problem exists more in slums and fringe areas of the city.
The report further adds that water supply varies across the city as 8 per cent of the population, which is 63,565 households comprising 2.6 lakh residents, receive less than 100 lpcd. This, despite an average 219 lpcd in the city as against the Centre’s norms of 150 lpcd.
The water supply shortage is mostly in Nagar Road area, Kharadi, Kondhwa and NIBM Road area. The PMC has also declared certain areas in the city as water scarcity zones where it has been unable to take steps to ensure sufficient water supply to citizens.
With the PMC supplying water on alternate days, Shiv Sena corporator Sachin Bhagat from Nagar Road area led an agitation in the civic body on Wednesday. “Residents of the area do not want water on alternate days but one hour every day as that is sufficient to meet their demands. Residents are suffering as they are unable to get sufficient water supply,” he said.
Though, the PMC has undertaken metering of water supply, it could only achieve 24% of the target. “There are 1.49 lakh water connections and only 36,211 connections are metered. The PMC received 44,217 consumer complaints on water in 2014-15 for low pressure, supply levels, supply hours and leakages. This is an average 120 complaints per day,” the plan said.
To resolve its water woes, the PMC has prepared a master plan with an estimated cost of Rs 2,800 crore, out of which approximately Rs 935 crore has been identified as priority work to achieve universal coverage and minimise gaps in supply levels. “The PMC focus is on equitable water supply and rationalising consumption. The proposed initiatives are focused on efficiency improvement,” said a civic official.
The PMC has laid a 2,688-km long pipeline network across the city for water supply. It has to undertake replacement of around 217 km of laid pipeline to ensure good quality and sufficient water for residents, the official added.
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